religare travel insurance covid

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Travel insurance

Best COVID travel insurance of 2024

Amy Fontinelle

Heidi Gollub

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 9:47 a.m. UTC May 2, 2024

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The best COVID travel insurance is Seven Corners’ Trip Protection Basic, according to our analysis of travel insurance plan rates and coverage options.

Editor’s note: This article contains updated information from a previously published story .

Seven Corners

Travel insured, usi affinity.

Why trust our travel insurance experts

Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of insurance products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.

• 851 coverage details evaluated.
• 161 rates reviewed.
• 5 levels of fact-checking.

Top-rated travel insurance for COVID-19

Top-scoring plan

Medical limit per person, emergency evacuation limit per person, what you should know.

Seven Corners’ Trip Protection Basic plan is the most affordable of all COVID travel insurance plans we analyzed. This 5-star plan comes with basic coverage levels for emergency medical and medical evacuation.

If you’d like higher coverage limits, consider Seven Corners’ Trip Protection Choice plan which gets 4 stars in our rating. It’s more expensive but comes with $500,000 per person in primary medical coverage and $1 million per person in medical evacuation coverage.

Pros and cons

• A low cost option for COVID travel insurance.
• “Cancel for any reason” and “interruption for any reason” upgrades available.
• Average cost of a CFAR upgrade is lower than many competitors.
• Basic plan has secondary emergency medical coverage, not primary.
• No coverage for non-medical evacuation with Basic plan ($20,000 with Choice plan).

Top-scoring plans

Medical evacuation limit per person.

WorldTrips has two COVID travel insurance plans that tie with 4.5 stars: Atlas Journey Preferred and Atlas Journey Premier.

The Preferred plan is more affordable and provides $100,000 per person in emergency medical benefits as secondary coverage, with an optional upgrade to primary coverage. Atlas Journey Preferred is also the best travel insurance for cruises .

The more expensive Premier plan comes with $150,000 in travel medical insurance that’s primary coverage.

• Both plans have top-notch $1 million per person in medical evacuation coverage.
• Each plan includes travel inconvenience coverage of $750 per person.
• 12 optional upgrades, including destination wedding and rental car damage and theft.
• No non-medical evacuation coverage.
• “Interruption for any reason” upgrade is only available with the Premier plan and only offers up to 50% reimbursement if you want to end your trip early.

Travel Insured’s Worldwide Trip Protector plan provides strong benefits overall for the price. It falls short of our emergency medical coverage benchmark but offers superior evacuation benefits at a competitive price.

• Emergency medical evacuation coverage is a superior $1 million.
• Excellent 75% “cancel for any reason” upgrade available.
• Very good 75% “interruption for any reason” upgrade available.
• Lost baggage and personal items coverage of $1,000 per person could be better.
• Relatively low emergency medical coverage of $100,000.
• Optional “Interruption for any reason” coverage doesn’t start until 72 hours into your trip.

Travel Guard Preferred from AIG allows you to customize your policy with a host of optional upgrades. These include “ cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage , rental vehicle damage coverage and bundles that offer additional benefits for adventure sports, travel inconvenience, quarantine, pets, security and weddings. There’s also a medical bundle that increases the travel medical benefit to $100,000 and emergency evacuation to $1 million.

• Bundle upgrades allow you to customize your travel insurance policy.
• Emergency medical and evacuation limits can be doubled with optional upgrade.
• Base travel insurance policy has relatively low medical limits.
• $300 baggage delay benefit requires a 12-hour delay.
• Optional CFAR upgrade only reimburses up to 50% of trip cost.

Emergency medical limit per person

USI’s Ruby plan meets our standards for emergency medical evacuation and healthcare coverage. Plan costs increase by an average of 50% when you add “cancel for any reason” coverage.

• Good emergency medical primary coverage of $250,000 per person.
• Great 75% “cancel for any reason” upgrade available at a competitive price.
• $300 per person baggage delay and $1,000 baggage loss coverage are just okay.
• No “interruption for any reason” upgrade available.
• One of the higher-priced options among our top-rated plans.

Tin Leg’s Gold plan provides plenty of medical and evacuation coverage to help you get health care if you catch COVID or have another medical problem during your trip. Plan costs increase by an average of 50% when you add “cancel for any reason” coverage.

• Best-in-class emergency medical primary coverage of $500,000.
• Optional 75% “cancel or any reason” upgrade available.
• “Interruption for any reason” coverage isn’t available.
• Subpar baggage delay ($200 per person) and baggage loss ($500 per person) coverage.
• One of the more expensive options among our top-rated plans.

Compare the best COVID travel insurance plans

Via TravelInsurance.com’s website

Methodology

Our insurance experts reviewed 851 coverage details and 161 rates to find the best COVID travel insurance plans. For this rating, we only scored travel insurance plans that cover COVID.

The benefits we scored out of a possible 100 points include:

Cost: 70 points. We scored the average cost for each COVID travel insurance policy with “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage for a variety of international trips and traveler profiles.

Emergency medical expense: 10 points.  We scored travel medical insurance by the coverage amount available. Travel insurance policies with travel medical expense benefits of $250,000 or more per person were given the highest score of 10 points.

Medical evacuation: 10 points. We scored each plan’s emergency medical evacuation coverage by coverage amount. Travel insurance policies with medical evacuation expense benefits of $500,000 or more per person were given the highest score of 10 points.

“Interruption for any reason” upgrade: 10 points. We gave travel insurance plans with the option of “interruption for any reason” coverage 10 points. This coverage allows you to end your trip early for any reason, including reasons not listed in your policy, and get reimbursed for a certain percentage of your prepaid expenses.

How to buy COVID-19 travel insurance

“Look for travel insurance that covers trip cancellation , trip interruption, emergency medical and emergency medical transportation ,” said Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA. A policy that provides epidemic-related coverage may reimburse you for costs associated with a canceled trip, travel delays, mandatory quarantines and being denied boarding due to suspected illness.

Plans that offer emergency medical coverage usually provide medical coverage for treating COVID-19, but you’ll want to read the policy to be sure.

Most travelers are surprised to learn about the 15-day review period that comes with many travel insurance policies, Durazo said. “Consumers should take the time to read their policy and call their provider with questions. If they don’t feel that their policy meets their needs, they can exchange it for a new product or cancel it for a full refund.”

Average cost of COVID travel insurance

The average cost of our top-scoring COVID travel insurance plans is $415 . By adding optional “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage, the average cost of COVID travel insurance rises to $615, an increase of 48%. 

CFAR coverage gives you the flexibility to cancel your travel plans for any reason, as long as you do so at least two days before your scheduled departure. When you cancel, you will typically be reimbursed up to 75% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses. If you’re interested in adding CFAR coverage to your travel insurance plan, you usually need to do so within two to three weeks of making your first trip deposit. 

How much you pay for travel insurance will depend on factors such as how many travelers you’re insuring and their ages, your trip destination, trip length and total trip cost. On average, travel insurance costs 5% to 6% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses, and adding CFAR coverage to your plan could increase the cost of travel insurance by about 50%.  

Get the best deal for the price: Discover affordable travel insurance options.

What travel restrictions are still in place?

Many travel restrictions that existed in the past three years due to COVID-19 are no longer in place. However, if a new, more dangerous variant emerges or if another infectious disease becomes a serious concern, national governments might reinstate previous restrictions such as requiring a negative virological test or proof of vaccination to enter the country. States and territories may have requirements that differ from national requirements.

Things are always changing, so it’s best to consult the official government website of the country you’re visiting and Travel.State.gov for the latest entry requirements and travel recommendations before booking your trip. Then, continue to check these websites as your trip date approaches to see if you’ll still be able to enter and leave your destination and re-enter the United States.

Quarantine reimbursement from travel insurance

Getting reimbursed by your travel insurance provider requires submitting documents that support your claim. Your policy should spell out what documents you’ll need. 

“Failure to get proper documentation for a claim will almost always delay processing of the claim,” said Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA. “Never assume that your insurance company will accept less than what they ask for. Call your insurance provider if you have questions about what documentation they’ll need to process your claim.”

In the case of a quarantine claim, you’ll typically need proof of getting infected with or being exposed to COVID-19, proof that you were required to quarantine, and invoices and receipts from any medical treatment and additional lodging costs. 

For coverage purposes, “a COVID diagnosis has to be from a licensed physician who determines that you can’t travel,” said Stan Sandberg, co-founder and CEO of TravelInsurance.com. “An at-home, self-administered COVID test won’t be enough to pursue a claim under a travel insurance policy.”

What does COVID-19 travel insurance cover?

“Most travel insurance providers today consider COVID like any other unexpected sickness for purposes of coverage,” said Sandberg.

If your plan does not exclude costs related to COVID-19, specific types of coverage under your plan can reimburse some or all of your expenses. These might include additional hotel nights, transportation, meals, medical care, flight changes and more. Here’s how different parts of a travel insurance policy would apply as it pertains to COVID.

• Extension of coverage. Applies if you have to stay at your destination longer than planned because you get sick and have to quarantine or new travel restrictions emerge.
• Travel delay. Applies if you or someone traveling with you gets sick or injured en route to, at or returning from your destination or if, say, an airline refuses to let you board because of suspicion of illness. 
• Trip cancellation . Applies if you get sick before you leave for your trip and have to cancel the whole thing. Be sure to get a diagnosis from a licensed physician. 
• “ Cancel for any reason ” upgrade. Applies if you decide you don’t want to travel because of a spike in COVID cases or national entry and exit requirements change. Not all plans offer this upgrade, and it can add quite a bit to the cost of your insurance.
• Trip interruption. Applies if you have to interrupt your trip after reaching your destination — for example, if you have to fly home early because you or someone traveling with you gets sick.
• “Interruption for any reason” upgrade. Applies if you miss part of your trip for a reason your policy doesn’t otherwise cover — for example, because you have to quarantine, but you don’t actually have COVID. Not all plans offer this upgrade.
• Emergency medical treatment. Applies if you unexpectedly get COVID during your trip and need health care. Pre-existing conditions are usually excluded. Plan to pay out of pocket and wait for reimbursement.
• Medical evacuation and repatriation . Applies if you need to be transported to the nearest adequate medical facility for treatment. If, God forbid, you should die of COVID during your trip, this coverage would reimburse you for costs associated with transporting your body back home.

What does COVID-19 travel insurance not cover?

“Most travel insurance providers that offer comprehensive policies have done a great job at accommodating COVID-related disruptions, providing reimbursement for events like quarantines and hospital stays,” said James Clark. Clark is a spokesperson for the travel-insurance comparison site Squaremouth, which is also the company behind Tin Leg and Cat 70 travel insurance. 

“However, there have been a handful of events that travel insurance simply does not cover,” Clark said. “During the height of the pandemic, when countries would close their borders for travel due to the coronavirus outbreak, many customers were unhappy that border closures were not covered by their standard trip cancellation policy.” 

“Policyholders that no longer wanted to travel due to negative test and face mask requirements were also unable to receive reimbursement through standard policies,” he said. “In order to receive reimbursement in these scenarios, a customer would have needed the ‘cancel for any reason’ upgrade.” 

That upgrade also covers “fear of travel,” which almost all travel insurance policies usually exclude, according to Clark. Canceling your trip out of fear of COVID infection or fear that the virus will disrupt your trip somehow is only covered by the CFAR upgrade, he explained.

Best COVID travel insurance FAQs

If you’re traveling within the United States or the U.S. territories, check with your health insurance company to see what coverage you get outside your state of residence. You may have coverage for emergency care and telehealth visits, but not for routine care. It’s also possible that your in-state plan may have arrangements with providers in other states that give you reduced rates.

With the end of the U.S. national emergency and public health emergency declarations related to the COVID-19 pandemic ending in May 2023, group health plans and individual health insurance plans will no longer be required to cover COVID tests and testing-related services without cost-sharing or prior authorization. This, too, could mean an extra expense for you.  

Medicare usually does not pay for health care you receive abroad (unless you’re in a U.S. territory, or, in rare cases, near the border of Canada or Mexico ). 

Other U.S. health insurance may not cover international health care, either, or the health insurance deductible may be high. 

For these reasons, it’s important to choose a travel insurance policy with good emergency medical coverage — which usually has no deductible — when you’re traveling abroad.

Yes, as long as the policy covers COVID-19 and travel to the country or countries you visit. All of the travel insurance plans in our Best COVID travel insurance cover COVID.

Your travel insurance policy’s trip cancellation benefits will apply if you have to cancel your trip before you leave because you test positive for COVID-19. But you need to get diagnosed by a licensed physician if you hope to file a successful claim for your prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs like airfare and lodging.

Cruise travel insurance is just travel insurance that doesn’t exclude cruise-related issues or has additional cruise-specific benefits. If you’re going on a cruise and want COVID-19 coverage, make sure your travel insurance policy covers COVID-19 and has high coverage limits for emergency medical and emergency medical evacuation .

You should expect to spend your own money if you need proof of a negative COVID-19 test for travel because travel insurance does not cover predictable expenses. In some cases, such as when you’re recovering from a COVID infection, your health insurance or travel insurance may cover a doctor-ordered test.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Amy Fontinelle has more than 15 years of experience helping people make informed decisions about their money, whether they’re refinancing a mortgage, buying insurance or choosing a credit card. As a freelance writer trained in journalism and specializing in personal finance, Amy digs into the details to explain the products and strategies that can help (or hurt) people seeking greater financial security and wealth. Her work has been published by Forbes Advisor, Capital One, MassMutual, Investopedia and many other outlets.

Heidi Gollub is the USA TODAY Blueprint managing editor of insurance. She was previously lead editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor and led the insurance team at U.S. News & World Report as assistant managing editor of 360 Reviews. Heidi has an MBA from Emporia State University and is a licensed property and casualty insurance expert.

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The best Covid-19 travel insurance companies to protect yourself against the uptick in cases

Travel insurance can help if you have to cancel or cut a trip short due to covid..

Though the height of the pandemic may have passed, Covid-19 continues to be a consideration in everyday life. And that's especially true for those who are traveling or booking a trip.  

Getting sick on the road or having to cancel your vacation because of illness is a common concern. However, travel insurance can help you ensure you're covered. Many travel insurance policies consider Covid like they would any other illness, but not all. So, you'll still want to carefully read any travel insurance policy you're considering to make sure Covid isn't excluded. For the most comprehensive coverage, you'll want to opt for a plan with cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage.

To find the travel insurance policies best suited to handle Covid-related issues, CNBC Select looked at Covid coverage and limits for medical coverage and evacuation, among other factors. We found four standouts for the best Covid travel insurance policies. (See our methodology to learn more about how we created this list.)

Best Covid-19 travel insurance   

• Best for high coverage limits : AXA Travel Insurance  
• Best for cruises: Nationwide Travel Insurance
• Best for luxury travel : Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection  
• Best for cancel for any reason coverage : Allianz Travel Insurance  

Best for high coverage limits  

Axa assistance usa travel insurance.

The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

Policy highlights

AXA Assistance USA offers several travel insurance policies that include travel interruption, trip cancellation, and the option of cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage.

24/7 assistance available

• Three tiers of plans available
• Highly rated for financial strength
• Cancel for any reason only available on highest-tier coverage

Who's this for?  AXA Travel Insurance is ideal for those seeking high coverage limits for emergency accident and sickness medical expenses, as well as emergency evacuations.

Standout benefits:  AXA's silver plan offers up to $25,000 of medical emergency accident and illness coverage and $100,000 of emergency evacuation coverage, higher than many of the base travel plans we compared. The company's gold and platinum plans offer higher limits, up to $250,000 of medical emergency coverage and $1 million of evacuation coverage. When comparing AXA policies, make sure you have the "Epidemic Coverage Endorsement" included.

[ Jump to more details ]  

Best for cruises

Nationwide travel insurance.

Nationwide's wide coverage for travel insurance allows many different types of travelers to find coverage that fits their needs. Three levels of cruise insurance coverage gives extra options to cruise passengers.

• 10-day review period on cruise insurance policies to make sure the plan meets your needs (not available in NY or WA)
• Most basic cruise plan doesn't offer CFAR coverage

Who's this for?  Nationwide's travel insurance offers higher limits than many other base plans we reviewed, with limits of $75,000 for medical coverage and $250,000 of emergency evacuation coverage in its essential plan.  

Standout benefits:  Nationwide offers several plans tailored to different needs, including a cruise-specific travel insurance plan and an annual plan for frequent travelers.  

Best for luxury travel 

Berkshire hathaway travel protection.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has multiple plans to cover vacations from luxury travel to adventure travel. The brand's LuxuryCare offers the highest limits of travel insurance coverage offered by the company. Quotes and policies are available online.

• Wide variety of policies available
• Strong financial strength rating by AM Best
• Cancel for any reason only provides reimbursement for up to 50% of non-refundable trip payments

Who's this for? Those considering expensive travel can find sufficient coverage with Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection that meets a variety of needs, including coverage for Covid if needed. 

Standout benefits:  Berkshire Hathaway's top-tier LuxuryCare Travel Insurance includes coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost for trip interruption coverage and $100,000 of medical expense coverage.  

Best for cancel for any reason coverage 

Allianz travel insurance.

10 travel insurance plans make it possible to customize your coverage. For families, Allianz's OneTrip Prime package covers children age 17 and younger when traveling with a parent or grandparent.

• Trip cancellation benefits can reimburse your prepaid, nonrefundable trip payments if you have to cancel your trip for one of the covered reasons stated in your plan documents. 
• Limited coverage for risky sports

Who's this for?  For those wanting the option to cancel for any reason (CFAR), Allianz Travel Insurance plans offer lots of different options, including CFAR add-ons.  

Standout benefits:  Allianz's Cancel Anytime upgrade can reimburse up to 80% of non-refundable trip costs for almost any unforeseeable reason not already covered by the policy. That's higher than most other CFAR coverage, which generally covers 70% to 75% of non-refundable trip costs. It's only available on the brand's OneTrip Prime and OneTrip Premier policies.  

More on our top Covid travel insurance companies 

Axa travel insurance  .

AXA offers three travel insurance plans starting at $16. Its silver plan, the lowest tier of coverage, offers high limits for emergency medical expenses at $25,000 and up to 100% of trip costs for trip interruption coverage. Many policies now include epidemic-related covered reasons.

CFAR coverage available?    

Yes, up to 75% of prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs 

24/7 assistance?   

[ Return to summary ]

Nationwide Travel Insurance 

Nationwide offers travel insurance plans for single trips, multi-trips and cruise-specific plans. The company has an A+ rating for financial strength from rating agency AM Best, and its most basic single trip and cruise plans offer a high limit of $75,000 of medical coverage.  

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection  

Berkshire Hathaway's travel coverage can be tailored towards the specific needs of cruise and luxury travelers, with options for higher coverage limits for medical coverage and trip interruption benefits.  

Yes, up to 50% of prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs 

Allianz Travel Insurance 

Allianz Travel Insurance stands out for those who want cancel for any reason coverage, as the percentage reimbursed is higher than other travel insurance providers we reviewed. For traveling families, the company's OneTrip Prime plan also offers free coverage for children ages 17 and younger with a parent's coverage.  

Yes, up to 80% of prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs through the optional Cancel Anytime upgrade 

Does travel insurance cover Covid?  

Travel insurance generally covers Covid-19 as it would any other illness. While fear of catching an illness isn't a cause for cancellation under most policies without a cancel for any reason (CFAR) add-on, being diagnosed with Covid-19 right before or during your trip could qualify you for cancellation, interruption or travel delay coverage.

As with any insurance coverage you're considering, read your travel insurance policy carefully to understand what it does and doesn't cover.  

What does travel insurance cover?  

Travel insurance can cover your trip expenses if you're unable to go due to an unforeseen, covered reason or face an illness or injury during your trip. It can also help in the event that you lose your bags or face delays in your itinerary. 

Bottom line  

If you find yourself coming down with Covid before or during a trip, travel insurance could help you recoup funds from a lost trip or cover medical bills while you're abroad. Look for a travel insurance plan with strong medical coverage and flexible cancellation options. 

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Why trust CNBC Select? 

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every travel insurance   review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of travel insurance   products .  To research the best travel insurance companies, we compiled over 100 data points on more than a dozen travel insurance companies. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See  our methodology  for more information on how we choose the best travel insurance.

Our methodology  

To determine the best Covid-19 travel insurance companies, CNBC Select analyzed dozens of travel insurance companies and compared them based on their Covid policies, and medical and evacuation coverage limits. 

While narrowing down the best travel insurance companies, we focused on Covid-19 coverage, availability of cancel for any reason coverage, and the limits of emergency medical coverage and emergency medical evacuation coverage. We also considered factors like whether 24-hour assistance was available, Better Business Bureau ratings, and financial strength ratings from AM Best .

Note that the premiums and policy structures advertised for travel insurance companies are subject to fluctuate in accordance with the company's policies.  

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards , banking and money , and follow us on TikTok , Facebook , Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.  

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Travel insurance with Covid cancellation cover: the right policies

By Sophie Butler

Purchasing travel insurance during the time of Covid can be overwhelming – will you be covered in case of cancellation, or do policies that offer medical assistance for Covid exist? Here, we break down the policies that offer Covid cover, plus what to look for in a travel insurance policy and whether your insurance is invalidated if the government advises not to travel. 

What is the best travel insurance with Covid cancellation cover?

Yes, here goes... Note though, all policies currently have restrictions on claims relating to Covid-19 and be aware that the situation is changing fast, so double-check the latest cover before you buy.

All Clear Travel Insurance ( allcleartravel.co.uk ): cover is available to people of all ages but particularly suitable for travellers with pre-existing medical conditions that other insurers are reluctant to cover.

Axa ( axa.co.uk ): this long-established, French-owned company is one of the largest insurers, providing a wide range of different policies geared to a variety of travel types.

Battleface ( battleface.com ): geared to individuals and groups with an emphasis on adventurous activities abroad and travel to remote destinations.

Campbell Irvine Direct ( campbellirvinedirect.com ): this insurer was established more than 45 years ago, and policies offer cover for travel to challenging and adventurous locations, including conservation and volunteer projects.

CoverForYou ( coverforyou.com ): competitively priced policies include winter sports and backpacker cover with enhanced silver, gold and platinum options.

Holidaysafe ( holidaysafe.co.uk ): catch-all travel specialist with a portfolio of ‘niche’ policies covering specific sporting activities including triathlon, sailing and cycling .

LV Travel Insurance ( lv.com ): one of the UK’s largest and longest-standing insurers, founded in 1843, offering single and multi-trip cover.

PJ Hayman ( pjhayman.com ): strong on customer care, with cover for medical conditions and hazardous activities plus round-the-world and gap-year travel.

Puffin Insurance ( puffininsurance.com ): annual or single-trip policies for customers aged 18-74, covering more than 75 different activities with numerous optional add-ons.

Trailfinders ( trailfinders.com ): policy automatically includes children up to 21 years, free of charge (note those aged 19-21 must be in full-time education).

Can I get travel insurance during Covid?

In a word, yes. Some companies (see list above) say they will still sell you insurance – including the crucial medical-expenses cover – provided the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) doesn’t advise against all or all but essential travel. Check the current FCDO list for the latest advice. Some insurers will also offer cover for destinations on the red list , but in the current climate of uncertainty, rules governing travel to individual countries can change fast. Travel-insurance specialist Battleface has a useful country travel restrictions tool on its website to help people check the latest developments based on a variety of factors including destination and departure dates.

Why is travel insurance important?

If you have a trip booked and don’t yet have insurance, it’s important to buy a policy as soon as possible. That way, if anything changes – FCDO advice for example – you will already have cover in place. The problem with choosing the best policy is that everyone has different requirements – it may depend on your destination, the type of trip (are you doing lots of adventurous activities , for example?) and quite detailed, nerdy stuff such as ‘travel disruption cover’, which is particularly useful at the moment if you are travelling independently. There is no shortcut to checking through the key provisions of any insurance you are considering.

What should I look for in a travel insurance policy during the pandemic?

This is the key problem. Insurers are obviously jumpy about how exposed they are to claims both for cancellations because of Covid-19 and for medical treatment as a result of catching it while you are abroad. So all have added restrictions and exclusions into their policies. You need to check exactly what those are and make sure you understand the limitations of the cover.

Does travel insurance cover Covid cancellations?

If you already have travel insurance it will normally cover your cancellation costs if you, or one of your travelling companions, falls ill before departure and can’t travel – though you will need a medical report from your doctor to confirm this. Some policies – though not many – cover losses incurred if you have booked independently and have to cancel because of FCDO advice. Look for ‘travel disruption cover’ or ‘journey disruption cover’ in the policy details, which may or may not include disruption due to epidemics (see below for more information). If you are forced to quarantine in a hotel after visiting a red list country, this is unlikely to be covered by any insurance companies. If you are simply nervous of travelling and want to cancel – which is known as ‘disinclination to travel’ in the insurance industry – no policy will cover you.

So what use is travel insurance during the Covid pandemic?

The key value of travel insurance is the medical cover it offers while you are travelling. This will underwrite the cost of treatment and if necessary a hospital stay if you fall ill on holiday. But whether or not you are covered for accommodation costs if you are diagnosed with Covid-19 and have to enter self-isolation or quarantine while you are abroad varies by policy. Some insurers, however, will pay up if you need a new flight home in these circumstances. In short – it varies, so be sure to read the small print.

Is my travel insurance invalidated if the FCDO advises not to travel?

In normal times, travel insurers won’t provide cover to countries or regions where the FCDO advises against all but essential travel. Traditionally, these areas might include destinations such as Afghanistan, Iraq or Yemen, but in recent times it has included much of Europe too, with countries being regularly added to and taken off the UK's quarantine list. However, some insurers now offer affordable policies that are designed for travellers heading to these European destinations, which may be of use once the lockdowns start to ease. As ever, it’s important to read the small print. For example, policies are invalidated during a government-imposed regional or national lockdown in the UK.

Can I get insurance cover if I catch Covid abroad?

Some insurers will cover against coronavirus if the FCDO has listed your destination as safe to visit before you head off. Some offer cancellation cover if you’re diagnosed with Covid-19 within a fortnight of departure, including emergency Covid-related medical expenses while abroad and repatriation, as well as cover in the event of a travelling companion contracting the disease. And you can find insurers that offer cover for medical expenses resulting from Covid-19 for all destinations including countries under FCDO and government essential and non-essential travel advisories.

So what happens if my holiday is cancelled?

If you have booked a package with a tour operator and the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to your destination, your tour operator is obliged to cancel the holiday and offer you a full refund. They might also offer you an alternative holiday, or suggest you postpone travelling dates, but you are entitled to get your cash back. If you can afford to, consider postponing your trip rather than cancelling it completely, should your health or updated government advice mean that you can’t go away as planned. There are a lot of people out there relying on us to keep spending on travel, with around 10 per cent of the world's population earning an income that is linked to tourism. To learn more about how important this is, see our guide to why you shouldn't cancel your holiday .

What if I booked my trip independently?

Travellers who have booked, say, a flight and accommodation separately, normally have no right to a refund if they cancel unilaterally, even if the FCDO has since advised against travel. In practice, however, most airlines are cancelling flights and refunding passengers in this situation. A hotel or villa company doesn’t have to give you your money back – though it is obviously worth talking to them; they may allow you to postpone your stay.

Will my insurance cover me if my airline collapses?

It’s vital to make sure you pay for flights with a credit card (if you are booking a flight directly with the airline and it costs more than £100 you can claim your money back from the credit card company), and check that any tour operator you book with has up-to-date Atol protection – or can show that it has an alternative bonding arrangement in place.

Which websites should I check for the best travel insurance information and advice?

A good website that gives the latest figures for every country reporting cases of Covid-19 is worldometers.info . For the latest formal FCDO advice on every country in the world see gov.uk and search for travel advice. The best health advice is at nhs.uk .

By Coral Sisk

By Lydia Bell

By Olivia Morelli

By Mary Lussiana

Am I still covered by the EHIC scheme in Europe?

Yes and no. As of Thursday 31 December 2020, Britain left the EU, but anyone holding a valid EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) will be covered for state-supplied medical care while holidaying in Europe until it runs out. And while the EHIC card has been scrapped for anyone who doesn't currently hold one, it has been replaced by the very similar GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card).

Anything else I need to worry about?

Insurers have become very jumpy about pre-existing medical conditions in recent years because they add to the risk of expensive medical claims and cancellations. It is absolutely critical that you declare any conditions you may have when you buy a policy, otherwise – if you do need treatment while you are travelling – you may find your claim is refused.

How do you choose travel insurance that covers COVID-19?

Oct 26, 2021 • 5 min read

COVID-19 has made it more important to check the health coverage on your travel insurance © Maskot/Getty Images

After 18 months of pandemic-related travel restrictions, you may be itching to act on your pent-up wanderlust⁠⁠—but the situation and the rules are still continuously evolving. So before you go anywhere, it’s best to have a travel insurance plan that protects the investment you’ve made in a long-awaited trip.

A robust travel insurance plan will reimburse pre-paid trip costs and non-refundable deposits if you have to cancel or interrupt your trip, encounter trip delays, experience baggage loss or require medical expense and medical evacuation. Your policy will also reimburse “covered reasons” in your plan, such as death, illness or injury, serious family emergencies, unplanned jury duty, military deployment, acts of terrorism, or your travel supplier going out of business.

But COVID-19 has added an additional checklist to your usual insurance needs⁠—it’s now important to check to ensure your travel insurance plan includes coverage for COVID-19 medical expenses, and losses related to illness. Your policy should also cover quarantine costs if you need to self-isolate after testing positive for the virus.

What do I look for in COVID-19 insurance coverage?

When you’re shopping for a travel insurance plan that covers COVID-19, you need to do your research and read the fine print of your plan. 

Look for a travel insurance product that will protect your non-refundable, prepaid expenses if you have to cancel your trip due to illness caused by COVID-19. Your policy should also cover emergency medical treatment and emergency medical transportation. With regard to COVID-19 coverage, be sure your policy covers medical care, medicine, hospitalization and quarantine expenses.

“The type of coverage you should look for depends on you, your needs, travel dates, and the type of trip you’re taking,” says Sasha Gainullin, CEO of battleface , a travel insurance carrier. He says some travel insurance companies have now excluded COVID-19 coverage because it has been labeled a “known/foreseeable event”, while others may exclude pandemics altogether.

“It’s important to search for plans that include medical and quarantine expenses as well⁠—this will be critical in the event you become ill and need to receive treatment while traveling,” continues Gainullin. 

One additional tip is to confirm there are no exclusions based on the destinations you’re traveling to⁠—this can happen with countries under government-issued travel warnings, Gainullin says.

“If a traveler feels uncertain, I recommend speaking with the travel insurance company directly. They can review the policy details with you, answer all of your questions, and confirm all of your required coverage options are included,” he adds.

Is getting coverage dependent on vaccination?

While it’s a good idea to be fully vaccinated before traveling, vaccination is not required to purchase a travel insurance policy, says Daniel Durazo, spokesperson with Allianz Partners USA.

What are the medical costs that are covered by travel insurance?

Travel insurance can cover the cost of both medical treatment and emergency medical transportation. A US health insurance plan, as well as Medicare, generally will not cover overseas medical expenses, so it’s best to check with your personal health insurance provider if any global coverage is available. 

“While losing the cost of a trip due to an unexpected cancellation would be painful, paying for expensive emergency medical treatment or emergency medical transportation can be financially devastating,” Durazo says.  

Under a travel insurance plan, medical costs could range doctor visits, pharmacy expenses, imaging costs and covering a hospital stay if required. Other expenses that can be covered are transportation to medical care and medicine.

Read more:  Will my health insurance cover getting COVID-19 while traveling in the US⁠⁠—or abroad?

What about covering an unexpected quarantine due to COVID-19?

Many international destinations are now requiring that visitors purchase travel insurance coverage for an unexpected quarantine. Allianz Travel Insurance has added coverage to many of its products that includes reimbursement for quarantine-related accommodations if you or a traveling companion is individually-ordered to quarantine while on their trip, says Durazo. 

This coverage typically covers the cost of additional food, lodging and transportation while quarantined. In addition, trip interruption and travel delay benefits on certain Allianz plans also provide coverage if you or your travel companion is denied boarding by your travel carrier due to suspicion of illness.

The benefits for quarantine coverage vary from carrier to carrier. For example, on select Trawick International plans, they offer $2,000 in quarantine benefits and for an additional charge, and you can increase it up to $7,000. 

What about pre-flight COVID-19 testing?

Your plan may provide coverage for flights if you are turned away at a border for not passing a health inspection. Foster says Trawick’s travel insurance plans that cover COVID-19 would cover the expenses if you could not pass your pre-health inspection.  Also, the plan would cover the costs of the failure of your PCR test to return to the United States, such as having to quarantine abroad. 

It’s important to note that the actual cost of the PCR test is not covered by your policy, just the loss associated with the negative test.

Read more:  PCR tests for travel: everything you need to know

Some destinations require COVID-specific insurance coverage⁠—how do I comply with those restrictions? 

Before any international travel, you should check the country where you are headed to make sure you comply with insurance coverage requirements. Countries like Spain, Turks and Caicos and Thailand are among the nations that mandate COVID-19 insurance coverage.

“You first must check the countries’ specific COVID regulations for entry into the country. Some countries require travelers to provide proof of travel insurance that covers COVID-19 related expenses purchased from a third party,” explains Foster. Providing proof coverage is key; so travelers need to ensure they receive documentation from their insurance provider that their policy covers COVID-19 related expenses to show customs officials, she says.

Should you arrive in a country that requires proof of insurance to cover COVID-19 medical expenses and quarantine costs, and you don’t hold a policy, you will not be granted entry.

For more information on COVID-19 and travel, check out Lonely Planet's Health Hub .

You may also like:  What happens if I'm denied entry to a country on arrival? What is a vaccine passport and do I need one to travel? What is the IATA Travel Pass and do I need it to travel?

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What You Need to Know Now About Travel Insurance

A spate of new travel insurance policies have begun covering Covid-19, just as many international destinations begin to require it. Here’s what to look for.

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By Elaine Glusac

When the pandemic struck, many travel insurance policies failed to cover Covid-19-related trip interruptions and cancellations, often because they excluded pandemics. But in the intervening months, the travel insurance industry has introduced a spate of new policies covering the disease just as many foreign destinations begin to require them.

“We’ve seen progress in that many plans will now treat Covid like any other unexpected sickness or illness,” said Stan Sandberg, a co-founder of the comparison website Travelinsurance.com . “If you have a trip and travel insurance and came down with Covid-19, which made it impossible to travel, that would fall under cancellation coverage as an unexpected illness that prevents you from traveling.”

Likewise, policies now including Covid-19 would cover holders in the event that a doctor diagnosed them with the virus while traveling under the trip interruption benefit.

Not all travel insurance excluded pandemics when the coronavirus began to spread early this year; Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection was one exception. But the broader change partially arises from consumer demand, a better understanding of the virus — including mortality rates and hospital costs — and the industry’s eagerness for travel to resume.

“People who are traveling are more conscious of their risks and thinking about protecting themselves and their investment,” said Jeremy Murchland, the president of the travel insurer Seven Corners. The company launched policies that included Covid-19 coverage in June; they now account for more than 80 percent of sales.

But, like all insurance, the devil is in the details when it comes to understanding travel insurance, including what’s covered, destinations where it’s required, and the inevitable caveats, as follows.

How travel insurance covers Covid-19

The new Covid-inclusive insurance generally covers travelers from the day after purchase until their return home. During that period, if you become sick and a doctor determines you cannot travel (because of the virus or another illness), trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits would kick in.

These benefits vary by policy, but a search to insure a $2,000 weeklong trip to Costa Rica in December on Travelinsurance.com turned up a $69.75 Generali Global Assistance Standard policy with Covid-19 benefits that would be triggered if you, your host at your destination, a travel companion or a family member tested positive for the virus.

If this happened before your departure, the policy would cover your prepaid travel expenses. If you or your travel companion contracted Covid-19 during the trip and were diagnosed by a physician, it would reimburse prepaid arrangements, such as lodgings, and cover additional airfare to return home — once a doctor deems it safe to travel — up to $2,500. Should you be required to quarantine and can’t travel, travel delay coverage for lodging, meals and local transportation would pay up to $1,000. The policy also covers medical expenses for up to one year, even after you return home, up to $50,000 — though the policy also states that a holder would have to exhaust their own health insurance benefits before seeking coverage under the travel insurance plan.

Travelers should read these policies carefully to understand the benefits (for example, some rules vary by your state of residence), but brokers like TravelInsurance.com, InsureMyTrip and Squaremouth are making them easier to find through filters, F.A.Q.s and flags.

The new more comprehensive policies don’t necessarily cost more. On a Squaremouth search for insurance for two 40-year-olds on a two-week trip costing $5,000, the site turned up a variety of policies with or without coronavirus exclusions from $130 to $300, with no apparent premium for Covid-19 coverage.

Not every Covid-19-related expense is covered by many of these policies, including tests for the virus that many destinations require before arrival (those may be covered by private insurance).

Many policies include medical evacuation to a nearby facility, but won’t necessarily transport you home. For those concerned about treatment abroad, Medjet , a medical evacuation specialist, now offers Covid-19-related evacuations in the 48 contiguous United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean that will transport you to the hospital of your choice in your home country (trip coverage starts at $99; annual memberships start at $189).

“Covid-19 requires special transport pods to protect the crew and others, which adds logistical issues,” said John Gobbels, the vice president and chief operating officer for Medjet.

In addition to the Medjet plan, travelers would need separate travel insurance with medical benefits to cover treatment costs and trip interruption.

Destination insurance requirements

Travelers aren’t the only ones worried about health. A growing list of countries are mandating medical coverage for Covid-19 as a prerequisite for visiting, often along with other measures like pre-trip virus testing and health screenings for symptoms on arrival.

Many Caribbean islands are among those requiring travel medical insurance, including Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas . St. Maarten requires health insurance coverage and strongly recommends additional travel insurance covering Covid-19.

Farther-flung countries also require policies that cover Covid-19, including French Polynesia and the Maldives .

Some destinations specify the required plan as a way to ensure travelers have the correct coverage and to expedite treatment. Aruba requires visitors to buy its Aruba Visitors Insurance, regardless of any other plans you may have.

“Insurance through a destination typically only covers Covid and infection while you’re there,” said Kasara Barto, a spokeswoman for Squaremouth.com. “If you catch Covid before, they don’t offer cancellation coverage. If you break a leg, the policy may only cover Covid medication. It varies by country.”

Costa Rica also requires insurance that includes an unusual benefit stipulating a policy cover up to $2,000 in expenses for a potential Covid-19 quarantine while in the country.

In response to the new requirement, which Costa Rica announced in October, insurers, including Trawick International , have begun introducing policies that meet the standard.

“It was a pretty quick and nimble reaction,” Mr. Sandberg of TravelInsurance.com said.

Normally, travel insurance varies by factors including the age of the traveler, destination, trip length and cost (most range from 4 to 10 percent of the trip cost). But some destinations are providing it at a flat fee, with most policies spelling out coverage limits and terms for emergency medical services, evacuation and costs associated with quarantines.

Jamaica, which will require insurance, but has not said when the new rule will go into effect, plans to charge $40 for each traveler. The Bahamas will include the insurance in the cost of its Travel Health Visa, an application that requires negative Covid-19 test results, which runs $40 to $60 depending on length of stay (free for children 10 and younger). The Turks and Caicos is offering a policy for $9.80 a day, and Costa Rica ’s policies, if purchased locally, cost roughly $10 a day.

Expect this list of destinations to grow. In January, the Spanish region of Andalusia plans to require travel medical insurance and is working on finding a provider to make it easy for travelers to buy it.

Gaps in travel insurance

Policies that cover Covid-19 as a medical event that may cause trip cancellation or disruption, or those that provide coverage for medical treatment and evacuation still don’t necessarily cover travelers who have a change of heart when they learn they will have to quarantine upon arrival, even if they don’t have the virus. Nor are policies necessarily tied to conditions on the ground, like a spike in infections, State Department travel warnings, a government travel ban or the cessation of flights to and from a destination.

For those events, there’s Cancel For Any Reason, or CFAR, an upgrade to plans that generally only returns 50 to 75 percent of your nonrefundable trip costs.

“Prior to the pandemic, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend CFAR because most of travelers’ concerns were covered by standard plans,” Ms. Barto of Squaremouth.com said. “It’s about 40 percent more expensive and we didn’t want travelers to pay for additional coverage.” Now, she added, there’s been a surge in interest in the upgrade, including in 22 percent of policies sold at the site since mid-March.

Industry experts predict some of these outstanding issues may work their way into policies of the future as they adapt to enduring realities, much as they did after 9/11 in covering travelers in case of terrorist events, which was not the norm before.

The pandemic “was unprecedented, but once it happened, the industry has been pretty quick to react and create coverage, and that’s in the spirit of how this industry is trying to define itself, to be one of those subtle but valuable assets,” Mr. Sandberg said. “Once the world opens back up, we expect travel insurance to be much more top of mind with travelers.”

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The Best Travel Medical Insurance of 2024

Allianz Travel Insurance »

Seven Corners »

GeoBlue »

WorldTrips »

Why Trust Us

U.S. News evaluates ratings, data and scores of more than 50 travel insurance companies from comparison websites like TravelInsurance.com, Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip, plus renowned credit rating agency AM Best, in addition to reviews and recommendations from top travel industry sources and consumers to determine the Best Travel Medical Insurance Plans.

Table of Contents

• Allianz Travel Insurance
• Seven Corners

Buying travel insurance is a smart move for any type of trip, but you may not need a policy that covers everything under the sun. If you don't need coverage for trip cancellations or delays because you're relying on your travel credit card to offer these protections, for example, you may find you only need emergency medical coverage that works away from home.

Still, travel medical coverage varies widely based on included benefits, policy limits and more. If you're comparing travel insurance plans and hoping to find the best option for unexpected medical expenses, read on to learn which policies we recommend.

Frequently Asked Questions

The term travel insurance usually describes a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes coverage for medical expenses as well as trip cancellations and interruptions, trip delays, lost baggage, and more. Meanwhile, travel medical insurance is coverage that focuses on paying for emergency medical expenses and other related care.

Travelers need international health insurance if they're visiting a place where their own health coverage will not apply. This typically includes all international trips away from home since U.S. health plans limit coverage to care required in the United States.

Note that if you don't have travel health insurance and you become sick or injured abroad, you'll be responsible for paying back any health care costs you incur.

Many travel insurance policies cover emergency medical expenses you incur during a covered trip. However, the included benefits of each policy can vary widely, and so can the policy limits that apply.

If you're looking for a travel insurance policy that offers sufficient protection for unexpected medical expenses, you'll typically want to choose a plan with at least $100,000 in coverage for emergency medical care and at least that much in protection for emergency medical evacuation and transportation.

However, higher limits can provide even more protection from overseas medical bills, which can become pricey depending on the type of care you need. As just one example, Allianz says the average cost of emergency medical evacuation can easily reach up to $200,000 or more depending on where you’re traveling.

Your U.S. health insurance policy almost never covers medical expenses incurred abroad. The same is true for most people on Medicare and especially Medicaid. If you want to ensure you have travel medical coverage that applies overseas, you should purchase a travel insurance plan with adequate limits for every trip. Read the U.S. News article on this topic for more information.

The cost of travel medical insurance can vary depending on the age of the travelers, the type of coverage purchased, the length of the trip and other factors. You can use a comparison site like TravelInsurance.com to explore different travel medical insurance plans and their cost.

• Allianz Travel Insurance: Best Overall
• Seven Corners: Best for Families
• GeoBlue: Best for Expats
• WorldTrips: Best Cost

Coverage for preexisting conditions is available as an add-on

Easy to purchase as needed for individual trips

Relatively low limits for medical expenses

No coverage for trip cancellations or trip interruption

• Up to $50,000 in emergency medical coverage
• Up to $250,000 in emergency medical evacuation coverage
• Up to $2,000 in coverage for baggage loss and damage
• Up to $600 in baggage delay insurance
• Up to $1,000 for travel delays
• Up to $10,000 in travel accident insurance
• 24-hour hotline assistance
• Concierge services

SEE FULL REVIEW »

Purchase comprehensive medical coverage worth up to $5 million

Coverage for families with up to 10 people

Low coverage amounts for trip interruption

Medical coverage options vary by age

• Up to $5 million in comprehensive medical coverage
• Up to $500,000 in emergency evacuation coverage
• Up to $10,000 in coverage for incidental trips to home country
• Up to $25,000 in coverage for terrorist activity
• Up to $500 in accidental dental emergency coverage
• Up to $100 per occurrence in coverage for emergency eye exams
• $50,000 in coverage for local burial or cremation
• 24/7 travel assistance
• Up to $25,000 in coverage for accidental death and dismemberment per traveler
• Up to $500 for loss of checked baggage
• Up to $5,000 for trip interruptions
• Up to $100 per day for trip delays
• Up to $50,000 for personal liability

Qualify for international health insurance with no annual or lifetime caps

Use coverage within the U.S. with select providers

Deductible from $500 to $10,000 can apply

Doesn't come with any nonmedical travel insurance benefits

• Up to $250,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation
• Up to $25,000 for repatriation of mortal remains
• $50,000 in coverage for accidental death and dismemberment

High limits for medical insurance and emergency medical evacuation

Covers multiple trips over a period of up to 364 days

Deductible of $250 required for each covered trip

Copays required for medical care received in the U.S.

• Up to $1,000,000 of maximum coverage
• Up to $1,000,000 for emergency medical evacuation
• Up to $10,000 for trip interruptions
• Up to $1,000 for lost checked luggage
• Up to $100 per day for travel delays
• Up to $25,000 in personal liability coverage
• Medical coverage for eligible expenses related to COVID-19
• Ability to add coverage for your spouse and/or child(ren)
• Repatriation of remains coverage up to overall limit
• Up to $5,000 for local burial or cremation 
• $10,000 to $50,000 for common carrier accidental death

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is an award-winning content creator who has been writing about travel insurance and travel for more than a decade. She has researched travel insurance options for her own vacations and family trips to more than 50 countries around the world and has experience navigating the claims and reimbursement process. In fact, she has successfully filed several travel insurance claims for trip delays and trip cancellations over the years. Johnson also works alongside her husband, Greg, who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states, in their family media business.

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The Best Travel Insurance Policies Right Now — and How to Choose One During the Pandemic

With new variants coming and going during the pandemic, there’s renewed interest in being protected while making travel plans.

When COVID-19 first brought travel to an abrupt halt in 2020, travelers were shocked to learn that their insurance didn't cover changes due to an epidemic or pandemic, even one on a global scale. Many who were in the midst of their travels ended up having to shell out their own money, while those with future plans suddenly lost out on non-refundable bookings. Nearly two years into the new reality with variants spreading and ebbing, travel bookings are being made with more caution — with a major uptick in protecting those plans with travel insurance.

"We can't predict every new variant that arises, so for the foreseeable future, you have to expect some sort of COVID-related effect on your travel plans," NerdWallet 's credit card and travel expert Sara Rathner tells Travel + Leisure . "Not every vacation needs travel insurance — refundable flights and hotel bookings you can easily back out of can be enough for you. But for very expensive trips, especially if you're going abroad, you'll want to think of additional ways to protect your investment."

Megan Moncrief, chief marketing officer of insurance comparison company Squaremouth , says news of the omicron variant in recent weeks has already resulted in a shift in insurance purchases. "With news of a new highly transmittable variant, and in light of some countries already closing their borders, travelers may have less confidence about the likelihood of their borders remaining open and their travel being possible," she tells T+L. "Likewise, new and evolving requirements may complicate international travel more than travelers are willing to coordinate."

Those factors make travel insurance a more important consideration now. But navigating various offerings can be a challenge, especially when there may already be embedded coverage when booking through certain companies or certain credit cards. "We caution travelers to make sure they aren't overspending on a policy that doesn't cover their concerns, or if they can have adequate coverage elsewhere," Moncrief adds. "Due to the very specific nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and related concerns, we urge travelers to do their due diligence to understand what type of refunds are available to them elsewhere, and then do some research before investing in a travel insurance policy."

Here, we outline the major types of travel insurance — but no matter the policy you choose, make sure to read the fine print carefully and speak with your provider about any concerns.

1. Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) Insurance

If you're worried about losing money on your trip, CFAR insurance is likely the best plan for you. "With it, you can recoup most of what you paid no matter the reason you back out of your trip," Rathner says. "If standard policies don't offer the level of coverage you want, this could be an option."

While the policy can typically be added 14 to 21 days after the initial trip deposit date, the major downside of CFAR insurance is that it's expensive and doesn't necessarily guarantee that you'll get all your money back. Moncrief says that CFAR plans are typically 40 to 50% more expensive than standard travel insurance policies, and they often only cover up to a 75% reimbursement of non-refundable trip costs, with others only covering 50%. But if border closures or last-minute cancellations due to variants or new travel requirements are a concern, this may be the way to go. Bottom line: This kind of policy might only be worth it if you're taking a really expensive trip.

2. Pandemic-specific Insurance

While many insurance providers have kept their policies pretty much the same (i.e. they still exclude the pandemic as a reason for coverage), a select few are offering new plans designed specifically for pandemic-concurrent travel. Seven Corners, for instance, has an option that includes COVID-19 medical coverage , which is valid for up to $100,000 in coronavirus-related medical expenses. Meanwhile, Allianz has added a special COVID-19 provision into some of its policies that cover cancellations, interruptions, and emergency medical expenses arising from contracting the virus before or during a trip. Again, reading the fine print is key.

"The biggest mistake we are seeing now is travelers simply assuming a policy can cover any inconvenience or change related to the pandemic," Moncrief says. "In reality, an insurance policy will only cover a very specific list of 'perils.' While this is typically a comprehensive list, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the forefront concerns that had never before been considered a threat to travel." She reiterates that border closures are one of the big examples that have come to light over the last two years with pandemic travel.

There are also travel insurance policies that have been developed specifically for the new ways in which people are traveling — namely, domestic road trips. Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection launched its ExactCare Lite policy for that reason. Also, if you are traveling domestically, keep in mind that your health insurance will likely cover you during your trip.

3. Provider-offered Travel Insurance

In order to win back travelers, a number of airlines, hotels, and cruise lines started offering specific COVID-19 travel insurance policies, which might even be free. Cathay Pacific includes free COVID-19 travel insurance with every booking through the end of the year; Japan Airlines through Jan. 10, 2022; and Etihad through March 31, 2022. Hotel groups like Club Med , Iberostar , and Shangri-La are also providing similar programs. Cruise line Atlas Ocean Voyages has also implemented emergency evacuation and return-to-home insurance policies for all guests.

But again, not all provider-offered insurance plans are equal, which is why reading the fine print is crucial. "Most travel insurance policies offered through a travel supplier are mainly designed to provide benefits related to that supplier, meaning other concerns, like illness at the destination, may not be covered," Moncrief says. "Oftentimes, these policies leave off common benefits of a comprehensive travel insurance policy in order to be competitively priced."

4. Credit Card Travel Insurance

You're probably aware that many credit cards have travel insurance policies built into them. Those often provide enough trip cancellation, travel delays, rental cars, and baggage benefits. "Just remember that you need to use that card to make your bookings in order to get that coverage," Rathner says. "Simply carrying the card while paying with another one isn't enough."

If you're traveling with expensive items that you want covered, the maximum coverage on credit card benefits can help cover them. But in other cases, it may not fit your needs. "These policies rarely include medical coverage, which is a leading driver of travel insurance purchases, and in some cases, may require the trip to be entirely booked on that card for coverage to apply," Moncrief adds.

5. Standard Travel Insurance

Even though standard travel insurance typically excludes coverage for reasons related to a pandemic, many providers like airlines, hotels, and cruises are still offering flexible policies on rebooking and cancellation — which is just the kind of reassurance you need to book your trip. Just note that anything you've paid for outside of your flight, hotel, or cruise will likely not be covered, so you'd still be on the hook for those expenses. Additionally, some providers have very specific time frames for cancellation, while others only offer a credit toward future travels rather than a full refund.

"The worst thing a traveler can do is assume they are covered for anything that could happen," Moncrief says. "Especially now, given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel, it's more important than ever to do some extra research to truly understand your policy's coverage. We never want a traveler to pay the additional expense on an insurance policy on top of their other trip costs if it won't provide the protection they are looking for. Coverage does vary by plan, as does the maximum payout limits per benefit. Policies are also priced differently per demographic. Travelers can use an aggregator, like Squaremouth , to compare coverage and prices to find the best policy for their trip."

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Key Benefits:

• € Medical Sum Insured - 30,000
• € Personal Accident - 10,000
• Compassionate visit

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• Medical Sum Insured - $500,000
• Personal Accident - $30,000
• Personal Liability - $250,000
• Medical Sum Insured - $250,000
• Personal Accident - $25,000
• Personal Liability - $200,000
• Medical Sum Insured - $100,000
• Personal Accident - $20,000
• Personal Liability - $100,000
• Medical Sum Insured - $30,000
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• Medical Sum Insured - $50,000
• Personal Accident - $15,000
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International Travel Insurance

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What is an International Travel Insurance Policy?

An international travel insurance policy is your trustworthy, reliable and mandatory companion for your trip abroad. Imagine this: You are travelling to a foreign country for leisure or personal business or studies. You don't want anything to ruin your trip and taint your happy memories. But unexpected things happen. You may fall sick or lose your passport or miss your flight! An international travel health insurance policy helps you deal with financial stress and worries cau​sed by such situations. It protects you in unexpected and untimely situations in an unfamiliar city with language barriers. An international travel medical insurance plan covers flight delays, lost or delayed baggage, lost passport, trip interruptions, medical expenses and trip cancellations.

Reliance General Insurance is here to ensure you have a wonderful stay and worry-free travel experience. With premium starting at ₹306*, our international travel insurance plans will help you deal with any baggage or trip or medical contingencies. Be it a delay of checked-in baggage, lost baggage, cancelled flight, delayed flight, missed connecting flights, passport loss, emergency hospitalisation, trip interruption or trip cancellation, we will be there for you.​

Why Do You Need Travel Insurance When Going Abroad?

Travel insurance is an insurance policy that provides financial protection to travellers during their international stay or trips. Imagine you’re all set to enjoy a vacation at an exotic destination and unexpected events disrupt your travel plans: You miss your flight or have to delay your trip due to weather conditions or get hospitalised during your stay abroad due to some medical emergency. A travel insurance plan ensures that none of the trip or medical contingencies cause any financial burden to you. It covers you from the moment you reach the airport till you’re safely back to India from your trip.

Here are some key reasons why buying a travel insurance policy is important when going abroad:

Mandatory by Law

Some countries have made it mandatory for travellers to have a valid travel health insurance plan before entering their borders. For example, it is a prerequisite to purchase medical travel insurance to enter countries like Russia, Singapore, the UAE, Romania and Cuba regardless of the purpose of your visit. The main reason behind making travel insurance mandatory in some countries is to financially secure foreign visitors from unexpected events like passport loss or theft, lost or misplaced luggage, trip delay or cancellations, medical emergencies or accidents and COVID-19 like situations.

Visa Requirements

While there are countries that offer visa on arrival to India, many countries require you to buy a travel insurance policy to initiate the visa application process. For example, it is compulsory to have travel medical insurance with a minimum medical coverage of EUR 30,000 to get a Schengen Visa. This will allow you freely in any of the Schengen countries, including Switzerland, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Portugal and Denmark. Other countries where travel health insurance is mandatory for the visa process include Turkey, Czech Republic, Ecuador, UAE, etc.

Cost of Medical Treatments

Medical expenses can be quite high in foreign countries than in India. The potentially high cost of medical treatments in case of unexpected illness or injury or accidental dental issues, not only increases your financial burden but also leaves you feeling helpless during your international vacation. An international travel medical insurance plan acts as a shield against unforeseen medical bills by offering cover for emergency medical hospitalisation, the cost of transporting the nearest hospital or back to India, and dental treatment due to an accident on your trip.

Coverages Offered

Besides offering international medical coverage, international travel insurance policies offer coverage for various baggage and trip-related contingencies. You lose your checked-in baggage or someone mistakenly takes your luggage or the airline delays or misdirects your checked-in baggage. Similarly, you may miss your connecting flight to your final travel destination or your trip may get delayed or interrupted or cancelled because of conditions that are beyond your control. All of these situations are covered under our plan.

What are the Different Types of Overseas Travel Insurance Plan?

Reliance General Insurance offers country-specific travel plans with sum insured ranging from USD 50,000 to USD 500,000 to cater to the diverse needs of globetrotters. We have overseas travel insurance plans that cover the top travel destinations across the globe, including the US, Canada, the UK, Greece, Austria, Egypt, Russia, Hong Kong, Japan and China.  Reliance Schengen Travel Insurance is popular among travellers who love to explore Schengen countries like Switzerland, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Portugal and Denmark. It has customised plans to offer the necessary medical coverage to comply with Schengen Visa requirements. On the other hand, Reliance Asia Travel Insurance has special plans to provide cover​age against various untoward events that may disturb your relaxing and exciting stay in beautiful Asian countries like Singapore, Thailand and South Korea.

Reliance Travel Care Policy also offers personalised plans for different combinations like individual, family, senior citizen and student. We have an international travel insurance plan for individuals who love to travel solo. Our international family travel insurance plan is perfect for people who love taking family trips abroad while our annual multi-trip travel insurance plan is a must for frequent business travellers. Meanwhile, Reliance Senior Citizen Travel Insurance Plan is specially curated for travellers aged between 61-70 years who want to explore the world. This is also one of the most preferred plans by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) who want their parents to visit frequently or have extended stays with them.

Additionally, Reliance Student Travel Insurance is best for students who want to study at reputed universities and institutions abroad. This international student travel insurance plan not only offers basic covers for lost passport, total loss of checked-in baggage and personal liability but also includes unique coverages like bail bond, study interruption cover and sponsor protection cover. It is a special international travel insurance plan for students that can be easily customised to meet the different requirements of universities in top countries like Germany, Australia, the UK, the US and Canada.

Benefits of Reliance International Travel Insurance Plan

Our Reliance Travel Care Policy has everything you need to ensure your safety and comfort during your international trip. Here are different covers you can enjoy when you buy our international travel insurance policy online:

Baggage Loss or Delays Compensation

In the situation of your checked-in baggage delay, our international travel insurance plan will provide up to USD 100 to help you buy necessary personal items like clothes, toiletries and medication. Additionally, in case of loss of Baggage, our plan will compensate you up to USD 1500* for total loss of checked-in luggage caused by your airline.

Passport Loss or Theft Cover

Losing your passport or becoming a victim of passport theft can be a dreadful experience. Our international travel insurance policy offers cover for passport loss to help you get reimbursement up to USD 300 for expenses incurred to get a new passport or duplicate passport.

Medical Emergency Cover

You may fall sick or get into an accident but with our international travel health insurance you can cover most medical expenses, including medical treatment, emergency medical hospitalisation and transportation, up to USD 500,000*. It also provides a cover of up to USD 500 for any accidental dental treatment needed during your trip.

Trip Cancellations and Interruptions Cover

In case you have to cancel or interrupt your trip due to unforeseen illness or inclement weather conditions or terrorist incidents, our international travel insurance policy will provide reimbursement of up to USD 600* for the forfeited, non-refundable prepaid payments made before the departure date.

Missed Connecting Flights

Our overseas travel insurance plan offers a cover of up to USD 500* in case you miss the connecting flight to your final destination. This will help to deal with your losses or additional transportation expenses without letting this situation dampen your holiday plans.​

Personal Liability Cover

Our international travel medical insurance plan covers you for any third-party bodily injury or property damage up to USD 250,000*​. This cover is helpful especially when you can’t control certain circumstances around you. For example, you may get involved in an accident during your international trip. and end up accidentally hurting another person or damaging their property.

• Hijack Distress Allowance

In the unlikely event of a flight hijack, Reliance Travel Care Policy offers a distress allowance of up to USD 125* per day (maximum 7 days) to help you deal with the trauma.

Compassionate Visit

No one can replace your loved ones, especially when you need them during medical emergencies on your international trip. Our international travel insurance plan offers a cover for compassionate visit wherein the travel and accommodation expenses of one immediate family member are covered. This cover comes in handy when you’re hospitalised due to an illness or injury and cannot return to India without any companion.

Features of Reliance International Travel Insurance Policy

Reliance Travel Care Policy offers different plans for different needs. The Standard Plan provides basic coverages for medical expenses, accidental dental treatment, passport loss, delay and total loss of checked-in baggage, personal accident, personal liability and compassionate visit. Meanwhile, the Silver Plan, Gold Plan and Platinum Plan offer comprehensive coverage by enhancing the sum insured for the basic covers offered under the Standard Plan along with additional covers like trip delays, trip cancellations or interruptions, missed connecting flights and more.

Note: The above table provides information for Reliance Travel Care Policy – Individual Plans. The covers mentioned above are subject to deductibles. Please read policy wording, brochure and prospectus for more information.

What’s Covered Under Reliance International Travel Insurance Policy?

Our Reliance Travel Care Policy is your travel guardian for all of your international trips. Be it medical expenses, lost baggage or trip delays, we cover it all. To understand your travel insurance coverage, have a look at what’s covered under our international travel insurance policy:

Medical Emergencies

Medical expenses.

Our international travel medical insurance policy covers the medical expenses up to USD 500,000* that you have incurred during the policy period for availing emergency medical treatment abroad for any illness or accident or injury that has been advised by a doctor. These treatments can include in-patient treatments, X-Ray, Radiotherapy, etc.

Transportation Costs

Our international travel health insurance plan covers the expenses for transportation to the nearest hospital or back to India for a medical treatment that’s been necessitated by a doctor. It also covers the additional costs for an accompanying person in case you need to be accompanied for the medically necessary treatment.

Dental Treatment

Our overseas travel insurance plan also covers expenses related to the acute anesthetic treatment of a natural tooth or teeth during the trip. Suppose an accident during your trip damages your teeth and the doctor recommends immediate dental treatment that cannot wait until you get back to India, the costs for the same are covered up to USD 500.

Daily Allowance In Case of Hospitalisation

In case you need emergency hospitalisation for more than two consecutive days due to an illness or injury during the trip, then our international travel insurance plan offers a daily allowance of up to USD 25 per day* (maximum 7 days). This benefit can be claimed only once during the policy period.

Personal Accident

Our foreign travel insurance policy offers compensation of up to USD 30,000* in case of death or disablement due to an injury that occurred during a trip.

Personal Liability

We know that you’re always careful but unintentional accidents can lead to physical injuries or material damage to third-parties. Our international travel insurance plan offers Personal Liability cover of up to USD 250,000* that takes care of your legal expenses and the compensation that you have to pay to the third-party as per the court of law up.

Repatriation of Mortal Remains

In the unfortunate event of your death due to an insurable event while on the trip, our international travel insurance plan covers the expenses related to transporting the mortal remains back to India or expenses for a local burial or cremation in the country where the death occurred. The expenses are covered up to the defined limits.

Baggage Covers

Delay of checked-in baggage.

Our international travel insurance plan provides baggage cover if your luggage is delayed by the airline or misdirected for more than 12 hours from the actual arrival date of the common carrier. Specifically, our Delay of Checked-in Baggage cover will provide reimbursement of up to USD 100 for expenses you incurred purchasing necessary clothes, toiletries and medication.

Total Loss of Checked-In Baggage

If your airline loses your baggage, then our international travel insurance policy will compensate you for the total loss of your checked-in baggage. The compensation is offered as per the market value of the total loss of checked-in baggage caused by a common carrier up to USD 1500*.

Journey Covers

Loss of passport.

Our Reliance Travel Care Policy offers reimbursement of up to USD 300 to cover all the expenses in connection with obtaining a duplicate or fresh passport that was lost during your international trip. In case of passport theft, you’ll get reimbursed for the cost of issuing a new passport if you report the theft to the police within 24 hours.

Missed Connections

Our international travel insurance plan provides a reimbursement of up to USD 500* if you miss a connecting flight due to inclement weather causing cancellation or a delay of the scheduled flights. It also covers any additional transportation costs to join the trip for non-refundable unused portion of prepaid expenses.

Get reimbursed for any reasonable additional expenses incurred because of a trip delay for more than 12 hours due to unforeseen reasons such as inclement weather conditions causing delay or a loss of passport or travel documents or unforeseen illness or injury of immediate family member. The reimbursement offered under this benefit is up to USD 60 per day* (maximum 6 days).

Trip Cancellation and Interruption

If you’re forced to cancel your trip before the scheduled departure date or trips have been interrupted because of an unfortunate and unforeseen illness, death of your immediate family or inclement weather conditions, then we’ll reimburse you for the forfeited, non-refundable prepaid payments made prior to the departure date up to USD 600*.

• Financial Emergency Assistance

In case of substantial loss of travel funds while travelling because of theft, mugging, robbery or dacoity wherein there is a detrimental effect on the travel plans. then we’ll provide financial emergency assistance of up to USD 300* under our overseas travel insurance policy. This will help you continue your trip and make any necessary arrangements.

If you’re hospitalised for more than seven consecutive days during your trip, you cannot return to India and don’t have any companion with you, then our international travel insurance plan will ensure that you’re not left alone. Our Compassionate Visit benefit will cover will the travelling and accommodation costs of your immediate family member up to the limits specified in the schedule.

Note: The coverages and sum insured will vary as per the plan opted. Please read the policy wordings for complete details on coverages.

What’s Not Covered Under Reliance International Travel Insurance Policy?

As much as we would like to cover all possible risks, certain situations are beyond the protection of our plans. We like to maintain complete transparency with our customers so here's what we don't cover in our international travel insurance policy:

Medical Exclusions:

Our international travel insurance plan does not cover any pre-existing diseases and expenses incurred due to self-inflicting injuries or suicide, mental disorders, alcohol/drug abuse and sexually transmitted diseases. It also does not cover the expenses incurred if you’re travelling against the advice of a physician.

Baggage Exclusions

Our international travel insurance policy does not cover any partial loss or damage to your luggage. Loss of hand baggage is also not covered. Additionally, losses arising due to delays and confiscation by the customs authorities are not covered.

Journey Exclusions

Our international travel insurance plan does not cover any losses or damages incurred due to any war or nuclear threat in the country where you're travelling. It also does not cover the challenges faced due to theft or loss of passport when left unattended, or unreported to local police authorities.

Note: Please read the policy wordings for the full list of exclusions.

How to Choose an International Travel Insurance Policy?

Selecting the right overseas travel insurance is a crucial for securing your trip abroad. It is important to choose an international travel insurance policy that offers comprehensive coverage and high sum insured instead of a cheap international travel insurance that doesn’t protect you adequately. So, how do you choose the right online international travel insurance? Here are a few pointers for you:

Check International Travel Insurance Policy Coverage

Check if the international travel health insurance policy covers emergency medical expenses, passport loss, baggage delays, baggage loss, trip cancellations, trip delays, trip interruptions, etc. We recommend you to look for comprehensive coverage when buying an international travel insurance online. For example, if you face a situation where the airline has misplaced your checked-in luggage, then our Reliance Travel Care Policy will help you get reimbursed for the lost baggage.

Look for Medical Emergency and Dental Treatment Covers

Best international travel insurance plans offer cover for a wide range of medical contingencies. You could get admitted in the hospital due to some accident or sudden illness and your travel plan should cover you for the hospitalisation expenses. Even if you need emergency dental treatment while on your trip then your international travel insurance should reimburse you for that. Make sure you get a plan that covers you for all of the previously mentioned scenarios (check out the Reliance Travel Care Policy for all these covers)

Choose Need-Based Sum Insured

Every international travel insurance plan has a Sum Insured, which is the maximum amount that an insurance company will pay toward a claim. The higher the Sum Insured, the better financial protection you get against medical emergencies and other trip-related contingencies. While we recommend you to choose an online international travel insurance policy that offers a high Sum Insured of up to $500,000, you need to select a plan based on your requirements.

Evaluate Claim Settlement Process

You should always check the travel insurer’s claim settlement ratio and process before buying international travel insurance online. A higher settlement ratio and a smoother claim procedure will ensure your claim is successfully processed.

How to Buy International Travel Insurance Policy Online?

Buying international travel insurance for your upcoming trip isn’t as easy as buying your favourite chocolate. You need to choose the right travel insurance that meets your requirements while giving comprehensive protection during your stay abroad. That’s why we’ve made it simple to buy overseas travel insurance online – just follow our step-by-step guide and you’re good to go.

Step 1: Scroll to the top of this page and enter your details including travel type, mobile number, email ID and travel destination.

Step 2: Choose your preferred plan type and click on ‘Buy Now’.

Step 3: Check your premium details, enter your personal details and choose your preferred mode of payment.

Step 4: Get your international travel health insurance policy for your upcoming trip.

Factors that Affect Your Travel Insurance Premiums

Your international travel insurance premium is influenced by a combination of factors like the country you’re travelling to, your age and the duration of your trip. Check out the list below to know in detail how each factor affects your premiums: 

Your Travel Destination

The country you choose as your travel destination affects your international travel insurance premium as each country carries its own risk, which the insurer assesses. Therefore, your premium will go higher if you’re travelling across USA and Canada in comparison to travelling to Asian destinations.

Length of Your Stay

Your international travel insurance premium is affected by your trip duration. A shorter trip results in lower premiums because the chances of risk is lower and the opposite applies for longer trips where the risk is higher. If you spend more time in your holiday destination, there is a higher risk of injury or illness since you’ll be out travelling to enjoy your holiday.

Age of Traveller(s)

The age of all travelling members plays a role in the premiums too. Older people are associated with medical higher risk as they have a high probability of having pre-existing diseases, therefore the premiums for them would be higher. On the other hand, younger travellers will have lower premiums as they are usually fitter and have a low medical risk.

Type of Insurance Plan

Different international travel health insurance plans cover different needs. If you’re a student going abroad for education, then we have an international travel insurance plan for students. If you take multiple trips in a year, then we have an annual multi-trip travel insurance plan . The premium changes based on your need and the type of insurance plan for that need.

Sum Insured

Every travel insurance policy has different plans that offer varying amounts of the Sum Insured. The Sum Insured is the maximum value that an insurance company will pay towards your claim. The claim could be related to flight delays, missed connecting flights, trip delays or interruptions, medical expenses, lost passport, loss or delay of checked-in baggage. So when the Sum Insured is high, the premium will be higher.

How to File An International Travel Insurance Claim?

Cashless claim, register claim.

The insured, his family or the hospital has to intimate a claim with the correct certificate number to Reliance General Insurance within 24 hours from the time of admission in case of hospitalisation. Note that the hospital has to agree to provide the cashless facility.

Claim Settlement

To avail Worldwide cashless facility, call the below-mentioned numbers or International toll-free numbers given country-wise in your Policy Schedule for any emergency assistance.

National Toll-Free No.: 1800-209-55-22

Landline No.: +91-22-67347843/44 (Charges Applicable)

New International toll-free numbers

Reimbursement Claim:

The insured or his family has to intimate Reliance General Insurance within 24 hours of the occurrence of claim.

For reimbursement, submit the fully filled claim form along with the hard copies of all the required documents at the below-mentioned address:

Europ Assistance India Pvt Ltd. 7th Floor, Star Hub,  Bldg No. 2, Near ITC Maratha Hotel, Sahar, Andheri East, Mumbai – 400 059., India

What are the Documents Needed to File a Claim?

1. You need to complete the KYC Process as per the AML/CFT Guidelines issued by IRDAI. You also need to submit PAN/Form 60 along with the below-mentioned documents for your international travel insurance claim.

2. You need to submit the original ticket/boarding pass, a copy of the passport indicating the travel dates and the completed claim form for every claim.

3. You also need to submit original bills/vouchers/reports and discharge summary for all claims.

4. You have to submit an official death certificate and a physician's statement giving the cause of death to avail reimbursement of the costs of transporting the mortal remains of the Insured/Insured Person to the Republic of India or of costs of burial abroad.

5. For claims related to lost passport, you have to submit a Police Report obtained within 24 hours of the Insured/Insured person becoming aware of the theft along with the original bills/receipts of expenses incurred for new/fresh passport.

6. A Property Irregularity Report or other report is usually issued by the common carriers in the event of loss of checked-in baggage. A letter from the airline will also need to be submitted stating the compensation, if any received from them for the lost baggage.

7. In case of claims related to personal liability, you need to submit proof of judicial decision rendered by a Court.

8. For claims under financial emergency assistance benefit, the police report filed within 24 hours of becoming aware of the robbery needs to be submitted.

For a complete list of applicable claim documentation please visit here .

Want to extend your trip? Take a look at this-

If your holiday is extended for any reason, we recommend that you extend your travel insurance policy. It always better to be safe than sorry! Download and fill the Extension Form with Good Health Declaration Form & visit the nearest branch.

We offer overseas travel insurance for various destinations around the world. Click here to know more about  travel insurance for different countries.

Disclaimer:  *T&C apply.   Details mentioned here are for Reliance Travel Care Policy - Overseas Plan, UIN: RELTIOP08002V010708.  Premium: The premium mentioned is excluding taxes for a medical sum insured of $25,000 for an Individual of 20 years on an Asia trip of 4 days. This is applicable for Asia plan only.  ​Sum Insured: The mentioned Sum insured amount is applicable only under Reliance Travel Care Policy – Individual – Platinum Plan.   Total loss of checked baggage: Maximum amount payable per checked-in baggage in case more than one bag has been checked in, is 50% (100% for only one checked-in baggage) of applicable sum insured and per item in baggage maximum 10%.

Travel Insurance Articles

Interesting travel reads .

• Quick Facts

Any trip you take is exposed to various risks like accidents, trip delays, cancellations, loss of passport, etc. To protect yourself from such uncertainties is why you need an overseas​ t​ravel insurance policy. ​It provides the financial support you need in emergency situations and any losses you may face. Having an international travel insurance policy promises a hassle-free international trip.​

No, international travel insurance is not mandatory. However, certain regions and countries like the Schengen countries and Australia mak​e it mandatory to buy travel insurance before travelling.

A deductible is an amount you agree to pay from your pocket towards a claim. Your international travel insurance policy will cover the remaining claim​ amount after the deductible is cleared. Each travel policy comes wit​h a deductible clause and is mentioned in the policy wordings.​​​

The age criteria of our travel insurance policy depend on the plan opted. For example, we offer policies with an entry age of 3 months t​​o 60 years under our Individual plan; policies to citizens aged 61 to 90 years under our Senior Citizen plan; and policies to Individuals aged 16 to 35 years under our Student plan etc. 

Our travel policies are recogni s ed and accepted all over the globe. For your convenience, we have an international presence through our many service providers. Moreover, Reliance General Insurance has special travel insurance plans that will cater to whichever country you plan to travel to. ​

No, our travel insurance policies are designed to cover leisure or personal business trips only.

Yes, we have designed our travel insurance plans to meet the requirements of both a trip for leisure and business. Individuals travelling abroad for personal business purposes can avail themselves of our Travel Care Policy, while those who are frequent travellers can opt for our Annual Multi-trip plan.​

Yes, a travel policy is applicable for one-way travel also, including immigration travel with the condition that the maximum duration of coverage be 60 days.

​​An Emergency Assistance Service Provider or EASP is an organisation appointed by the insurance company to provide claim-related services to insured members on any international trip.

No, every individual is to be issued only one travel insurance policy during his/her journey.

Yes, it is mandatory for the customer to be present in India before buying a travel insurance policy.

If you cancel your policy before the start of the travel date, then a refund is applicable with a cancellation charge in case of non-travel. However, no refund is applicable if the Insured has travelled during the policy period.​

The policy can be extended only once during the trip at the request of the policyholder and approval of the insurance company. Policy extension cannot exceed a total of 365 day in total.

All emergency medical expenses incurred during the trip for inpatient and outpatient treatment, diagnostic services, transportation to the nearest hospital, etc. are covered under a travel insurance policy. So, in case of any injury or loss you will get adequately covered.

Yes, with Reliance Travel Insurance you can extend your travel plan! If your holiday is extended for any reason, we recommend that you extend your  international ​ travel insurance policy. Download and fill the  Extension Form and visit the nearest branch.

Reliance Travel Care Policy covers you for most medical and financial requirements and offers some additional assistance in case of any emergencies while travelling.

Any basic international​ travel insurance policy will cover you for:

• Medical Expenses Including Transportation, Evacuation and Repatriation of Mortal Remains
• Personal accident​

Apart from these, you can opt for covers like:

• Dental treatment
• Financial emergency assistance
• ​​Delay / Total loss of checked-in baggage
• Trip delay, Trip cancellation and interruption, Missed connection
• Loss of passport
• Home burglary insurance
• Personal liability

Our insurance policy doesn't have any specific cover that takes care of sporting interests. In case you meet with an accident while playing leisure sports, provided it's not part of a competitive event, you can use the personal accident cover of your policy. However if you are involved in extreme sports like bungee jumping, mountaineering, air gliding or ballooning, and meet with an accident, then the policy won't cover you. Here's a complete list of hazardous activities which are not covered under the basic policy.

In case you do lose your passport, your policy will reimburse you for actual expenses necessarily and reasonably incurred to get a duplicate or fresh passport.

However, the international travel insurance policy will not cover you if your passport:

• is confiscated or detained by customs officials, police offers or police authorities
• is lost on account of it being left unattended or forgotten in a public place or transport, hotel, apartment or a private place or vehicle
• has been robbed and you have not reported the incident to the local police within 24 hours of the event. We will require a copy of the report when you make the claim.

Your policy provides a reimbursement for delays​ in transportation of checked-in baggage beyond 12 hours. This is valid across all travel destinations that are mentioned in your ticket, including all halts as well.

This cover for delay will not be available in the following cases:

• If your baggage is lost, unless a Property Irregularity Report or equivalent report, issued by carrier, is procured and submitted.
• If there is partial loss of the items contained in the checked-in baggage.
• If items contained in the checked-in baggage, valued in excess of US $100, do not have appropriate proof of ownership.
• If the valuables, money, securities, tickets and passes or any other item(s) are not declared and agreed by the Company.​
• If the losses are a result of delay, detention, confiscation by customs officials or other public authorities.
• If the losses are incurred due to complete / partial damage of the checked-in baggage.
• If the checked-in baggage is delayed on the inbound sector to the Republic of India.

This amount will be up to a maximum, as mentioned in your policy schedule.​

The loss of handbag is not covered. Your  international travel insurance ​ policy pays or reimburses only for a delay in transportation of checked-in baggage accepted by a common carrier by which you/insured would be traveling. It is also mandatory that the common carrier has issued a baggage receipt for the trip.

​​As long as you are travelling by "Common Carrier" means any scheduled commercial airline or ship or vessel operating under a license from the relevant authority for the transportation of passengers for hire you stay covered.

Your international travel insurance has a personal liability cover that protects your liability under accidents that result in death, injury, damage to health or damage to the property of a third party. This also covers any hospitalisation expenses in case of any accidental injury.

Yes, it does. Your hospitalisation expenses will be covered in a quick and cashless manner. If you have been hospitalised for more than 2 consecutive days, you can even avail of a daily allowance subject to plan opted.

No, since this is a special service that provides assistance in times of financial emergency that may arise due to theft or robbery you will not be able to avail this cover if you’re short of funds/cash.

In case your flight is hijacked, your policy will compensate you, up to the maximum amount as mentioned in your policy, post the first 12 hours of hijacking.

In case your flight is delayed for more than 12 hours from the scheduled time, due to unforeseen circumstances like illness, death, delay due to bad weather, natural disaster, we will reimburse to you up to the maximum amount as mentioned in your policy.

If your plan covers home burglary, your house and valuables are covered for burglary or attempted burglary, up to the limit of sum insured. Please note that the cover does not protect you from losses sustained due to fire or other perils.

If you opt for the ‘Study Interruption’ cover, it provides you compensation in case:

• you are hospitalised for more than one consecutive month on account of any disease, illness, injury, terminal sickness or medical repatriation,
• an immediate family member or your sponsor expires, leading you to discontinue your studies for the remaining part of the current semester, the tuition fee for which has been paid.

Pregnancy, childbirth and any consequences thereof unless the medical assistance provided abroad involves unforeseen emergency measures to save the Insured/Insured Person's or the child's life in the event of acute complications, provided that the Insured/Insured Person has not completed the age of 38 years and 30th week of the pregnancy is not yet completed.​

If any illness / injury during the policy period abroad necessitates curative treatment beyond duration of this insurance, the Company's liability to pay benefits within the scope of this Policy shall extend for a further period of 30 days insofar as it can be proved that transportation home is not possible. Emergency Assistance Service Provider must be notified immediately as soon as it is known that Insured / Insured Person is unfit to return to India. If any new illness / injury is contracted beyond duration of this Policy, treatment for the same will not be covered.

In such a case, if the death or disablement occurs within 12 months from the start date of the policy, the company will process the claim as per terms and conditions of the policy in favour of beneficiary/nominee mentioned in the policy.

In the event the Insured/Insured Person is hospitalized for more than 7 consecutive days, and his/her medical condition forbids repatriation and no adult member of his/her immediate family is present, the Company after obtaining confirmation of need for a companion from the attending doctor and the Emergency Assistance Service Provider, will provide:

a) a round trip economy class air ticket, or first class railway ticket, to allow one immediate family member, during the entire period of insurance, to be at his/her bedside for the duration of stay in the Hospital;

b) expenses towards stay of the immediate family member during such compassionate visit.​​

​​When you and your family are on a foreign tour, Reliance Travel Care Policy covers your home/ home contents in India against burglary. It protects your house and valuables from burglary and/or attempted burglary, up to the limit of Sum Insured. This cover does not cover losses sustained due to fire or other perils.

Yes. Please read your policy document carefully to understand what risks you're covered for and what is not covered. Ensure that you have the cover you need.

​​No, an international policy is not extendable for domestic travel. Any medical or accident policy that you may have, will cover you for the relevant benefits, while you are travelling within the country.

​​​No, the policy will not cover any expenses if there is passport loss in India.​

There are various online methods to pay your premium and they are:

• Credit/debit cards
• Net banking

You can decide on the scope of the insurance based on your financial needs. Factors you should take into account are the number of travel days, the country you’re travelling to and type of risks you want to be covered for.

The policy cannot be extended online. The premium depends on the plan, age, geographical coverage and the number of days of primary policy opted and the extension number of days sought.

Currently there are no discounts available on our travel insurance plans however our travel plans come at nominal premiums with an extensive coverage and a high sum insured.

We have global network of Third-Party Administrators (TPA) who assist our customers to settle their claims abroad (the final decision on any claim made will be after receiving and assessment of all the documents).

You have two options here. You can go cashless by immediately intimating us in case of a medical emergency or loss. Following that we can process your cashless treatment in a hospital. You can also get your bills reimbursed after you clear your expenses from your own pocket. You can opt for reimbursement for facilities like OPD and doctor consultation which cost lower than a hospitalisation.

From the date of receipt of the last documents, it will take approximately 30 working days for the final settlement of the claim.

The original ticket/ boarding pass or a copy of the passport indicating the travel dates i.e. visa with entry and exit stamp plus the original bills and vouchers must be submitted along with the completed claim form for all claims.

Any other document(s) that we require from you to process the claim may be asked for, if we or the Service Provider requests that bills/ vouchers in a foreign language be accompanied by an appropriate translation then the same will be borne by claimant.

For medical claims: Medical Practitioner's Consultation notes, Original admission/ discharge card, Original Bills/ receipts with prescriptions and diagnostic/ investigative reports along with mandatory documents as claim form, copy of passport/ visa with entry and exit stamp and copy of the ticket and boarding pass.

Any other documentation as deemed necessary by the Company.​

Any claim due to or arising out of pre-existing medical condition/ailment whether declared or undeclared is not covered under the policy. However, life-threatening conditions arising out of a declared pre-existing disease that necessitates emergency medical procedures will be covered.

No such pre-approval is required before hospital admission in case of any medical emergency. Registration of claim is required to avail benefits under the policy. Please call the given numbers in the policy schedule to register your claim and confirm your coverage under the policy as soon as possible upon hospitalisation​, intimation can be done even by sending an email or making a call to our 24x7 emergency assistance partner on provided email address or toll-free numbers. Please refer to the policy schedule for contact details.

A sub-limit​ is a limit placed on a specific type of coverage within an insurance policy. In travel insurance, a sub-limit is placed on the coverage for medical expenses for insured members of a specific age. So older members will be able to utilise only part of the sum insured amount for a medical emergency because of a sub-limit.

​​The claim procedure involves intimation and settlement.

The first step you take is to inform the Emergency Service Assistance Provider (EASP) by calling them on the Help Line number or via email. The hospital has to get in touch with the EASP and confirm if they want to accept the cashless facility and submit all the medical documents and bills to the EASP. Post this, the EASP will assess the claim and place a Guarantee of Pay (GoP) to the hospital.

In case the hospital does not agree to the EASP’s GoP, you can settle the bill with the hospital and later get reimbursed from Reliance General Insurance.

Medical Assistance & Emergency Services are provided by our Service Provider, Europ Assistance who are at your Service 24*7 during trip duration. Please provide Immediate intimation of any claim / requirement for emergency assistance while abroad to ensure that the Claim is not prejudiced. Please contact the International Toll Free Helpline numbers given below. In case of any requirement for emergency assistance whilst abroad, please contact the toll free helpline numbers given below:

Singapore and Thailand — 001-80099441111,

Hong Kong — 001-80099441111 and 006-80099441111,

USA — 18337426673,

Canada -011-80099441111 ,

Australia —0011-80099441111,

Japan — 001-010-80099441111 and 010-80099441111,

Israel — 00-80099441111 and 014-80099441111,

Greece —86002038017,

Argentina— 00-80099441111,

Austria— 00-80099441111,

Belgium— 00-80099441111,

China— 00-80099441111,

Czech Republic— 00-80099441111,

Denmark— 00-80099441111,

France— 00-80099441111,

Germany— 00-80099441111,

Hungary— 00-80099441111,

Italy— 00-80099441111,

Malaysia— 00-80099441111,

Netherlands— 00-80099441111,

New Zealand— 00-80099441111,

Norway— 00-80099441111,

Philippines— 00-80099441111,

Poland— 00-80099441111,

Portugal— 00-80099441111,

South Africa— 00-80099441111,

Spain — 00-80099441111,

Sweden — 00-80099441111,

Switzerland— 00-80099441111,

Taiwan — 00-80099441111,

United Kingdom — 00-80099441111

Dedicated National Toll Free Help Line : 1800 209 5522

Land Line : +91 22 67347843 +91 22 67347844  

Email : [email protected]

The Trip Delay cover reimburses you for any reasonable additional expenses incurred in the event of a trip delay lasting over 12 hours due to unforeseen circumstances such as inclement weather conditions, loss of passport or travel documents, or unforeseen illness or injury of an immediate family member. The reimbursement amount will be pay as per the sum insured specified in the policy schedule.

If your checked-in baggage is delayed for more than 12 hours or misdirected by the airline, then you get reimbursed for the expenses of “Necessary Emergency Purchases”. Necessary Emergency purchases includes clothes, toiletries and medication.

If your checked-in baggage is completely lost by the airline, then you’ll get compensated for the same lost baggage up to the market value. Note that any partial loss of checked-in baggage will not be covered. Please check the policy wordings for full details of this cover.

If your trip is interrupted or you’re forced to cancel your trip before the scheduled departure date due to unexpected illness, death of your immediate family member, or inclement weather conditions, then you’ll get reimbursed for the forfeited, non-refundable prepaid payments made prior to the departure date. Please check the policy wordings for full details of this cover.

If you’re hospitalised during your trip and it can be proved that you need to continue treatment even after your policy expires then we’ll cover, you for an extra 30 days under the policy you bought. Please check the policy wordings for full details of this cover.

​Sum Insured is the maximum amount we as an insurance company will pay towards the claims that you as a policyholder raise. It is the agreed upon amount stated in your policy document which will cover your risks up to a certain limit.

Reliance General Insurance shall not be liable to make any payment under this benefit in connection with or in respect of any expenses whatsoever incurred by you for:

1. Medical treatment abroad if that is the sole reason or one of the reasons for temporary stay abroad.

3. Treatment which could reasonably be delayed until the Insured/Insured Person's return to the Republic of India. The question of what can or what cannot be reasonably delayed will be decided jointly by the treating Physician and the Emergency Assistance Service Provider.

4. Treatment of orthopedic, degenerative, oncological diseases, unless the medical assistance provided abroad involves unforeseen emergency measures to save the Insured/Insured Person's life or measures solely designed to relieve acute pain in any case excluding chemotherapy or radiotherapy expenses.

5. Charges in excess of reasonable and customary charges incurred on account of an insurable event as per the determination by the Emergency Assistance Service Provider.

6. Expenses incurred in connection with cancer treatment, unless the medical assistance provided abroad involves unforeseen emergency measures to save the Insured / Insured Person's life or measures solely designed to relieve acute pain.

7. Treatment relating to the removal of physical flaws or anomalies (cosmetic treatment or 'plastic' surgery in any form or manner).

8. Expenses incurred in connection with rest or recuperation at a spa or health resort, sanatorium, convalescence home or similar institution.

9. Expenses related to mental or psychiatric disorders.

10. Pregnancy, childbirth and any consequences thereof unless diagnosed as a Life Threatening Medical Condition by a Medical Practitioner.

Please refer policy wordings for complete list of exclusions.

You can visit any Dentist / Clinic for Emergency Dental relief and avail the treatment, and you can get reimbursed for emeregncy expenses at the dental clinic. Ensure you collect consultation notes, receipts and X-Ray reports from the dentist, which you need to submit to our claims department. You can intimate the claim after your treatment on our 24x7 emergency assistance department number and we will assist you with the claim procedure.

Yes, you can file a travel insurance claim in India upon return within 30 days from the Policy expiry date or date of your return to India whichever is earlier. However, it is advisable to file a claim while abroad as soon as any incident occurs leading to the claim under the Policy.

Reimbursement of all claims (except claims under Financial Emergency Assistance) will be made by the Emergency Assistance Service Provider (or Service Provider) in Indian Rupees on your return back to India, at the exchange rate specified by the Reserve Bank of India, as applicable on the date the amount is billed. Claims under Financial Emergency Assistance shall be settled/arranged directly to you, whilst abroad, by the Service Provider. You shall immediately and in any event not later than 30 days after his return to India, notify the Service Provider and obtain a Claim Form for completion and return to the Service Provider along with supporting invoices and any other documentation or information that might be required or requested by the Service Provider.

We shall reimburse the expenses subject to approval of by cheque on the name of the insured.

The Third Party Administrator (TPA) or Emergency Assistance Service Provider means persons, or organisations​ who have been appointed by us to provide administrative services on our behalf and at our direction for an Insurable event. You can contact our Emergency Assistance Provider Europ Assistance India Pvt. Ltd. in case of any claim.

You can contact our Emergency Assistance Provider Europ Assistance India Pvt. Ltd. on the numbers specified on the Policy schedule.

Your cover beings on the start date specified in the Policy when you commence your journey by the specified airline (Common Carrier) outside the Republic of India till that date you return to India or the Policy expiry date whichever is earlier.

There is no specific list of hospitals or network which we have since the Policy covers all the hospitals and Service Providers abroad. In case of an emergency hospitalisation, you have to contact the emergency service provider and register the claim for cashless processing of your claim.

Coverage under this Policy is limited to the checked-in baggage which is entrusted with the airline (Common Carrier) during your trip.

You need to report this to the nearest Police station and visit the Embassy. Expenses incurred towards the procurement of a duplicate / temporary passport is covered due to loss of passport. Please check the policy wordings for full details regarding this cover.

You can visit any hospital/doctor and intimate us through a Service Provider to get your cashless or reimbursement claim.

The limit for all kind of expenses and what is included and not is mentioned in the policy wordings. We recommend you go through the same for all the details.

No, for any dental treatments or even outpatient treatments, you can only get reimbursed for your claims after you’ve paid for them first.

If you or any of the travelling members covered under the policy meet with an unfortunate accident that leads to total or partial disablement or death, then we'll compensate you or the legal heir for the loss. Here's a brief description of the compensation under the cover:

• In case of death, 100% of the Sum Insured (SI) is given if the insured was 18 years and above (50% of SI if insured is below 18 years).
• In case of loss of sight in both eyes, loss of hands and legs, then 100% of the Sum Insured can be claimed.

For a detailed table of the Personal Accident cover, please read the policy wordings .

In the unfortunate event, where the insured person becomes legally liable for death, injury or damage to the health of such third party or damage to his/her properties then the Personal Liability cover takes care of your legal expenses and the compensation that you have to pay to the third-party as per court of law upto the specified limits mentioned in the policy.

​​No, you cannot raise a claim for any treatment done after you return to India. Nor does it cover any treatments done before your trip commences.

You have to register a claim by contacting our Emergency Assistance Service Provider. After the claim registration, you can arrange and submit the supporting documents to the claims department. Once that’s done, our claims department will review the documents to ascertain the claim admissibility and update you if there is any additional requirement. Once a claim is found admissible, we shall update you and process the final reimbursement amount as per Policy terms and conditions.

No, there is no such card which we issue along with the Policy copy. You can submit the copy of your Policy schedule in the hospital & simultaneously contact our Emergency Assistance Service Provider to intimate the claim.

Yes, under the policy transportation to the nearest hospital and cost of an accompanying friend or colleague is covered. Air ambulance is also covered if deemed medically necessary and after the approval of our claims team. Please read the policy wordings for full details of this cover.

No, medicines purchased over the counter from a pharmacist are not covered unless and until prior consultation is sought from a Medical Practitioner and same is prescribed as a part of treatment. You have to consult a doctor and supporting consultation notes & prescriptions are required to claim for these charges.

In the absence of the required mandatory original documents, we will regrettably not be able to process the reimbursement amount.

If you lose all the original documents and thus are unable to produce the same at the time of raising a claim, then we’ll regrettably not be able to process the reimbursement amount.

Extension of the Policy during the duration of the trip can be done only once at the sole discretion of Reliance General Insurance. The Insured / Insured Person shall submit a declaration letter clearly mentioning the claims filed during the original Policy duration and also that he / she is unaware of any existing health condition which could result in a claim during the extension period.

In case a claim has been filed in the original Policy duration, then the Policy may be extended only if the claim filed relates to the following benefits:

• Total loss of checked baggage
• Delay of checked baggage
• Trip cancellation interruption
• Missed connection

The extension of any Policy is at our sole discretion, and we will not be liable to offer any reason to the Insured / Insured Person if the Policy is not extended.​

No, there is no such pre-approval required before hospitalisation.

Unless and until a family floater policy is purchased, individuals will require a separate policy for each of them, and separate set of claim documents in case of any claim.

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Dear Reliance General Insurance Team, I had an opportunity to chat with Somil for my policy extension. Somil’s understanding and expertise with the subject is par excellent. Somil has made me comfortable with his utmost professionalism. I wish him good luck with Reliance and I award him 5 Stars for my today’s interaction with Somil. Keep up your good work.

Hi, I'm just appreciating your service team member, Mr. Vikas Agrawal for an outstanding service provided. Resolution to the problem was quickly solved. Thank you & Good luck to the team for the support.

Purchased travel insurance from reliance to ensure my baggage safety

Travel insurane from Reliance General provides me baggage coverage and I feel secured

Missed my connecting flight to New Zealand. Thank God I had travel insurance. Reliance General really helped me out.

I purchased a student travel insurance for my son who is going abroad for studies and I got a fair deal

Happy with the quote I received for my overseas travel insurance policy. I purchased the travel insurance for my upcoming abroad trip

purchased the overseas travel insurance for my upcoming abroad trip with family.

Purchased a overseas travel insurance for my upcoming abroad trip. This makes me feel highly secured

I went to abroad for the first time and my trip went really well as i was feeling secured with reliance's overseas travel insurance

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7 Best Cheap Travel Insurance Companies in May 2024

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Finding the cheapest travel insurance is often a priority for travelers hoping to protect themselves and their finances while away from home.

But is it better to err on the side of affordable travel insurance or opt for a more comprehensive plan? That depends on your needs .

On average, a comprehensive plan that covers some combination of trip cancellation and interruption costs, medical coverage and baggage protection (and perhaps a number of other things) will cost you 5%-10% of what you paid for the trip, according to NerdWallet partner Squaremouth, a travel insurance marketplace.

That means a comprehensive policy for a trip that costs you $3,000 could run you anywhere between $150 and $300. Factors like the cost and length of your trip, the age of the travelers and how much protection you want can significantly influence what you pay for your plan.

Ultimately, Squaremouth recommends “the least expensive policy that offers the coverage [travelers] need.”

» Learn more: The best travel insurance companies right now

Factors we considered when picking cheap travel insurance plans

We considered a few factors as we looked for the most affordable travel insurance plans.

Price: If your goal is to find cheaper travel insurance, you want the price to be affordable.

Breadth of coverage: The best budget travel insurance is typically going to be a plan that offers a wide range of protections at an affordable cost, ensuring you’re protected with at least some coverage for a wide range of scenarios.

Uniqueness or customizability : While many travel insurance plans have similar protections, some stand out for particular coverage that can be helpful to certain travelers, like those needing to Cancel For Any Reason , those going on a cruise, or travelers with preexisting health conditions. We didn’t spring for the priciest plans with broad, deep coverage; instead, we picked those that meet a sort of budget "sweet spot" when it comes to cost efficiency.

» Learn more: Is travel insurance worth getting?

An overview of the best cheap travel insurance plans

We looked at travel insurance quotes for a hypothetical 10-day trip to Italy in October 2023. The traveler is a 40-year-old man living in North Carolina who spent $2,000 on the trip, including airfare.

Reliable but cheap travel insurance providers

1. axa assistance usa (silver plan: $70).

Why we picked it:

The $500 missed connection benefit is great for cruise and tour participants. It covers additional transportation, accommodations and meal costs when you miss a cruise or tour departure.

Full trip cancellation and interruption coverage, along with up to $25,000 for out-of-pocket medical costs and baggage coverage.

Among the lowest prices we found.

If you’re willing to spend a bit more than AXA's $70 Silver plan, a Gold plan only costs $19 more and gets you deeper coverage amounts and up to $35,000 in collision rental car insurance.

2. Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (ExactCare Value plan: $56)

Cheapest plan we found while still offering a wide array of protections.

Includes a preexisting medical condition waiver.

Add-on rental car collision coverage optional for $10 per day. You can pick how many days you want the additional coverage — it’s not all or nothing.

At $56, this plan comes in at less than 3% of the $2,000 trip cost.

3. IMG (iTravelInsured Lite plan: $77)

Treats COVID-19 like any other illness, which is to say, if your claim accepts flu, strep throat or appendicitis as an acceptable, covered condition, the coronavirus is, too.

Covers costs related to trip interruption up to 125% 

Higher than normal limits on dental expenses, at $1,000. If your teeth are your Achilles heel (or your biggest fear), this plan might be for you.

The iTravelInsured Lite plan doesn’t offer some of the bells and whistles that other plans do, like rental car coverage , Cancel For Any Reason coverage or waivers for pre-existing conditions. But you’ll have relatively solid across-the-board trip protections.

4. John Hancock (Silver plan: $93 for a mid-tier plan)

Mid-level plan (as opposed to a basic plan) at an affordable price for travelers who want more coverage without paying too much.

Includes an optional Cancel For Any Reason add-on for travelers wanting flexibility. It is a bit pricey, at half the cost of the insurance ($46.50 extra for a $93 plan).

Reimburses up to $1,000 for lost baggage , far more than many basic plans.

Add-on rental car coverage for $9 per day.

At $88, John Hancock’s basic (Bronze) plan isn’t particularly affordable. But for just $4 extra, you can tap into the benefits of a mid-tier plan at still less than 5% of the total trip cost.

5. Nationwide (Essential plan: $76)

Includes a preexisting conditions waiver.

Add-on rental car coverage for $90. 

Covers trip interruption at 125% of the trip cost while providing comprehensive emergency medical and baggage coverage.

6. Seven Corners (Basic plan: $75)

On top of standard trip protections, it includes a relatively affordable Cancel For Any Reason option for $31.50 extra.

If you plan to rent expensive sporting equipment, you might consider paying $10 extra to cover lost, damaged, stolen or destroyed gear.

COVID-19 coverage reimburses you for costs incurred if you have to quarantine .

Rental car coverage comes in at an affordable $7 per day.

Seven Corners’ Basic plan stands out because it offers a little bit of everything, appealing to athletic travelers, those who need affordable trip protections, those who want the flexibility to cancel for any reason and those still concerned about getting quarantined due to COVID-19.

7. Travelex Insurance Services (Basic plan: $71)

Straightforward: What you see is what you get. This plan’s coverage has fewer rules and caveats than many. 

While not sporting the highest coverage amounts, it offers a solid range of protections to ensure you get at least something back when your travel is disrupted or you have a medical emergency.

Offers add-on rental car coverage for $10 per day.

At $71, the Travelex Basic plan’s cost is just over 3% of the $2,000 trip’s cost.

If you want to get travel insurance at the cheapest possible rate, here’s a trick. Put $0 as your trip cost, Stan Stanberg, co-founder of comparison site Travelinsurance.com said in an email.

“When excluding trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage the cost of a travel insurance plan goes down significantly,” Stanberg said.

That means you won’t get reimbursed if you need to cancel your trip or if it gets interrupted. But you may still have access to the plan’s medical, trip delay , missed connection, baggage and other protections.

You’ll often find comprehensive travel insurance plans cost 5%-10% of your total trip cost, according to Squaremouth. This will often get you full trip cancellation and trip protection, baggage protection, emergency medical coverage and often other benefits.

Typically, the more you pay, the broader and deeper the coverage.

For many plans, you can purchase travel insurance up until you depart. However, to get access to the most protections possible, booking two days to two weeks after making your initial deposit is the best rule of thumb.

That means you won’t get reimbursed if you need to cancel your trip or if it gets interrupted. But you may still have access to the plan’s medical,

, missed connection, baggage and other protections.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-2x Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

• Best overall
• Best for expensive trips
• Best for older travelers
• Best for affordability
• Best for annual plans
• Why You Should Trust Us

Best Travel Insurance for Seniors of June 2024

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

Reaching your golden years doesn't mean your adventures have to end. In fact, in this stage of life, you'll hopefully have more time and resources to travel. But as a senior citizen, you'll want to ensure you have travel insurance that covers any health-related issues arise while you travel.

Best Senior Travel Insurance Companies

• Best overall: Allianz Travel Insurance
• Best for expensive trips: John Hancock Travel Insurance
• Best for older travelers:  TravelSafe Insurance

Best for affordability: GeoBlue Travel Insurance

Best for annual plans: travel guard.

How we rate the best senior travel insurance companies »

Compare the Best Travel Insurance for Seniors

Your health gets more unpredictable as you age, which makes travel insurance more important for seniors. Unfortunately, it's also more expensive. The best travel insurance for seniors won't have too steep of a price hike compared to rates for younger travelers. It will have high coverage limits for emergency medical coverage, trip cancellations, and and emergency medical evacuation. It's also important that your travel insurance offers pre-existing condition waivers , ideally at no extra cost to the traveler. 

Here are our picks for the best travel insurance coverage for seniors in 2024.

Best overall: Allianz

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Good option for frequent travelers thanks to its annual multi-trip policies
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Doesn't increase premium for trips longer than 30 days, meaning it could be one of the more affordable options for a long trip
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Some plans include free coverage for children 17 and under
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Concierge included with some plans
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Coverage for medical emergency is lower than some competitors' policies
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Plans don't include coverage contact sports and high-altitude activities
• Single and multi-trip plans available
• Trip cancellation and interruption coverage starting at up to $10,000 (higher limits with more expensive plans)
• Preexisting medical condition coverage available with some plans

Allianz Travel Insurance is one of the most widely recognized names in travel insurance, and it stands out as one of the top travel insurance providers for seniors. It offers a wide range of policies covering medical treatments overseas and emergency medical transport.

Allianz also provides options for varying trip lengths. Its annual multi-trip policies , for example, cover any trip you make during your policy period, even if they aren't yet planned, making it an excellent option for seniors who vacation multiple times per year.

Read our Allianz Travel Insurance review here.

Best for expensive trips: John Hancock

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Offers 3 travel insurance plans
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Cancel for any reason rider available
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Affordable travel insurance premiums
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Reviews of claims process are mixed
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Buyers may not get specialty coverage for sports equipment and other high value items
• Trip cancellation for 100% of the trip cost
• Trip interruption insurance for up to 150% of the trip cost
• Emergency medical coverage of up to $250,000 per person
• Medical evacuation coverage of up to $1,000,000

John Hancock Travel Insurance plans for seniors offer some of the best coverage available. It provides generous maximum benefit amounts while still offering affordable prices.

Each plan includes coverages like trip cancellation, emergency accident, and emergency medical, with the option to add benefits like CFAR (cancel for any reason) . Plus, getting a free online quote is a quick and straightforward process.

Read our John Hancock Travel Insurance review here.

Best for older travelers: TravelSafe Travel Insurance

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Up to 120 days' coverage available for travelers ages 79 and under (30 days for 80+)
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Up to $2,500 per person for missed connections over three hours or more
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Trip delay coverage of up to $150 per person per day kicks in after six hours or more
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Policy can be purchased by U.S. citizens living abroad
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Medical coverage ceiling of $100,000 may be low for some travelers' needs.
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Claims reviews from customers say performance is not always the best
• A well-rounded insurance plan for travelers who are concerned about missing connections for cruise-related travel
• Classic and Basic travel insurance plans
• GolfSafe travel insurance plans provide coverage for you and your equipment
• Travel medical insurance through partner Trawick International

TravelSafe Insurance is a great choice for older travelers, even among seniors, insuring travelers up to 100 years old. TravelSafe also offers pre-existing condition waivers for all its tiers when you purchase your policy within 21 days of your initial trip deposit. With a great deal of flexibility, travelers don't have to worry about eligibility when purchasing travel insurance with TravelSafe. TravelSafe even has two tiers of coverage devoted specifically to golfers. 

Read our TravelSafe travel insurance review here.

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. A subsidary of Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Offers strong medical plans as long as you have a regular health insurance plan, but it doesn't have to be through Blue Cross
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Offers long-term and multi-trip travel protection
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Multiple complaints about claims not being paid or being denied
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Does not provide some of the more comprehensive coverage like CFAR insurance
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Buyers who do get claims paid may need to file multiple claim forms

GeoBlue Travel Insurance is a travel insurance provider that specializes in travel medical insurance . Because it doesn't offer much trip protection or travel inconvenience coverage, it can charge cheaper premiums than its competitors. 

GeoBlue's policies cover travelers who are under 95 years old, offering sizeable coverage for emergency medical treatments (up to $1 million) and medical evacuations (up to $500K). It's worth noting that while coverage for pre-existing conditions are available, it costs extra.

Read our GeoBlue Travel Insurance review here.

Trip cancellation coverage for up to 100% of the trip cost and trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Trip cancellation coverage of up to 100% of the cost, for all three plan levels
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. CFAR covers up to 75% of total trip costs (maximum of $112,500 on some plans) 
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Medical coverage of up to $500,000 and evacuation of up to $1,000,000 per person
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Includes COVID coverage 
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Above average baggage loss and delay benefits
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. High medical evacuation coverage
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Premiums may run slightly higher than competitors

Travel Guard is a well-established and highly rated name in the travel insurance industry. It offers three main coverage options to choose from, and in general its policies have above-average coverage for baggage loss and baggage delays, plus high medical evaluation coverage limits.

• Trip cancellation coverage for up to 100% of the trip cost
• Trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost
• Preexisting medical conditions exclusions waiver must be purchased within 15 days of initial trip payment
• Annual travel insurance plan and Pack N' Go plan (for last-minute trips) available

Travel Guard  offers comprehensive insurance plans for shorter and longer trips. One of its more unique offerings is its Travel Guard Annual Plan.

This annual travel insurance comes with standard coverage benefits (trip delay, baggage loss, etc.) and substantial coverage amounts, which is important for seniors who travel multiple times per year. Travel Guard also offers a pre-existing medical condition waiver, meaning those with certain medical issues can still gain coverage.

Read our AIG Travel Guard Insurance review here.

Understanding Travel Insurance for Seniors

Before diving into the specifics, it's essential to understand what travel insurance is and why it's particularly important for senior travelers. The best travel insurance offers financial protection against unexpected events affecting your trip, such as trip cancellations, medical emergencies, or lost luggage.

Types of coverage

• Medical Coverage: Ensures your medical expenses are covered in case of illness or injury.
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage: Provides reimbursement if your trip is canceled or cut short due to unforeseen events.
• Baggage Coverage: Covers loss, damage, or theft of personal items during your trip.

Benefits of travel insurance for seniors

• Peace of Mind: Knowing you're covered in case of emergencies can make your travel stress-free.
• Financial Protection: Shields you from potentially overwhelming medical costs and trip cancellations fees.
• Assistance Services: Many plans offer 24/7 assistance services, providing help whenever and wherever you need it.

Making the most of your plan

After choosing a plan, it's crucial to understand your policy fully and know what services are available to you in case of an emergency.

Understanding your policy

When you purchase a travel insurance policy, you'll be able to see a description of benefits, which is a long document that describes the exceptions and limitations to your coverage. You should carefully review this document so you're not blindsided by unexpected claim denials. 

For example, if you're canceling a trip because unexpected work, you may not be eligible for coverage if you haven't worked at your company for long enough. Additionally, you should review your policy to ensure that your pre-existing condition is covered, as companies often have very specific language around what qualifies as a covered pre-existing condition.

Emergency assistance services

Most companies offer a 24/7 concierge service that can help you navigate situations that arise during your trip, even issues beyond the scope of your policy. They can advise you on how to navigate these situations in accordance with your policy and make sure you acquire the necessary documentation when you need to file a claim down the line.

How to Pick Travel Insurance as a Senior Traveler

It's wise to compare several different travel insurance policies for the best coverage and pricing, as premiums vary widely between insurers and depend on factors like your age and travel destination.

That said, some of the more essential coverages to look for if you're a senior citizen include:

• Travel medical coverage - This coverage will pay for your medical bills outside the US.
• Medical evacuation coverage - If you're injured or become sick while traveling, this coverage will transport you to the nearest hospital or even back home if your condition necessitates it.
• Pre-existing conditions - Coverage for known health conditions. You'll need to purchase travel insurance within a certain time period from when you book your trip to qualify for a pre-existing condition waiver .
• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) - The name says it all! It'll cost extra and you'll need to purchase insurance early, but it's the most comprehensive trip cancellation coverage you can get. Note that CFAR insurance usually only covers up to 75% of your trip fees.
• Trip cancellation insurance - This coverage provides reimbursement for your prepaid and nonrefundable costs if you cannot make your trip due to an unforeseen event.
• Baggage delay insurance - This coverage will reimburse you for essentials like toiletries and clothes if your bags are delayed.
• Lost luggage insurance - This coverage will reimburse you up to a specified amount if your bags get lost en route.

Of these, the most critical to note are whether or not your policy covers pre-existing conditions and the limits for travel medical insurance and emergency medical evacuation.

Some insurance companies offer a waiver that will cover pre-existing conditions. You'll have to follow the requirements for adding a waiver to your policy, like insuring the entire cost of your trip. Or purchase the policy within a specific time after making your first trip deposit payments.

You'll also want to find a policy with high maximum limits for travel medical and emergency medical evacuation coverage. These types of expenses can be substantial, so you want to have appropriate coverage.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Senior Travel Insurance

When comparing senior travel insurance options, we looked at the following factors to evaluate each travel insurance provider:

• Coverage limits: We looked at each travel insurance company's coverage amounts for benefits like medical emergencies and trip cancellation.
• Flexibility: We looked at how customizable a policy is, so you can choose what your travel insurance policy covers .
• Coverage for pre-existing conditions: Pre-existing conditions are one of the more critical factors for travel insurance for senior citizens, so we looked at travel insurance companies that offer the best coverage for pre-existing conditions.
• Price: We compared travel insurance providers offering reasonable basic and comprehensive coverage rates.
• Benefits geared towards seniors: We compared travel insurance companies that offer solid coverage for senior citizens, like medical evacuation, COVID-19 coverage, and trip cancellation.

You can read more about our insurance rating methodology here.

Best Senior Travel Insurance FAQs

Seniors should look for travel insurance policies that offer comprehensive medical coverage, including for pre-existing conditions and emergency medical evacuation. They should also consider policies with higher coverage limits to ensure adequate protection. Additionally, seniors should seek travel insurance plans that provide 24/7 assistance services, as well as coverage for trip cancellations, interruptions, and baggage protection.

The cost of senior travel insurance coverage can vary depending on your age, overall health, state of residence, travel destination, and length of your trip. While the average travel insurance policy costs 4% to 8% of your trip's nonrefundable cost, a 65-year-old's policy may cost 15% of their trip's cost.

All travel insurance companies, except World Nomads, included in this guide offer coverage for pre-existing medical conditions as long as you buy your policy within the qualifying period from when you placed your trip deposit.

Allianz is the best travel insurance for seniors due to its wide array of medical coverages and emergency medical transport. Allianz also offers multi-trip insurance policies , which could make sense for seniors who travel frequently.

In some instances, travel insurance companies will have age eligibility restrictions, often only insuring people 80 years old and younger.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

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Best Cancel for Any Reason Travel Insurance of June 2024

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The offers and details on this page may have updated or changed since the time of publication. See our article on Business Insider for current information.

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

"Cancel for Any Reason" (CFAR) travel insurance provides the utmost flexibility, allowing you to cancel your trip for any reason that's not covered by standard travel insurance. It's the safety net for those 'just in case' moments, offering peace of mind for unforeseen circumstances. Let's dive into what sets the best CFAR travel insurance apart from other policies.

Best Cancel for Any Reason Travel Insurance

• Best overall: Seven Corners Travel Insurance
• Best for reimbursements:  Allianz Travel Insurance
• Best value: Travel Guard
• Best for adventurers: Travelex Travel Insurance
• Best for multiple trips:  C&F Travel Insured
• Best for cruises and tours: AXA Assistance USA
• Best for quick protection: TravelSafe Insurance

How we rate CFAR insurance »

Compare the Best Cancel for Any Reason Travel Insurance

While CFAR insurance can simplify your claims process for trip cancellations, it comes with its downsides. For one, CFAR insurance is more expensive than regular travel insurance. Additionally, you will only receive a percentage of your nonrefundable trip costs if you cancel a trip. As a result, when choosing the companies in this guide, we looked at the best recovery policies and the lowest additional costs for CFAR insurance.

These are our picks for the best CFAR travel insurance companies in 2024. 

Best Overall: Seven Corners Travel Insurance

Seven Corners Travel Insurance is a well-known carrier that has served thousands of travelers. The Trip Protection Choice plan offers a cancel for any reason travel insurance add-on that covers up to 75% of total trip costs, with a maximum of up to $75,000 in reimbursement. Medical coverage is also generous, with up to $500,000 per person for eligible medical expenses and evacuation/repatriation limits of up to $1 million per person.

Seven Corners also offers generous benefits on lost baggage and delayed travel or baggage expenses. Baggage delay benefits kick in after just six hours and go up to $500 per person.

The Choice plan does not insure travel canceled by tour operators that are or have gone out of business, so this policy may not be the best fit for travelers who plan to visit destinations with tenuous

Read our Seven Corners Travel Insurance review here.

Best for Reimbursements: Allianz Travel Insurance

Allianz Travel Insurance is one of the leading brands in travel insurance, with 10 different travel insurance plans across single-trip, multi-trip, and rental car plans.

Its CFAR plan for OneTrip Prime and Premier policyholders offers 80% reimbursements on canceled trips, which is the highest percent reimbursement across the plans we reviewed. Most companies offer 75% or lower for CFAR reimbursements.

Read our Allianz Travel Insurance review here.

Best Value: AIG Travel Guard

Travel Guard  is one of the best-known names in the travel insurance industry, with several plans available for traveler needs in every direction. AIG also provided the lowest quote for our hypothetical Europe travelers despite offering the highest ceiling on CFAR reimbursement.

Both AIG's Preferred and Deluxe insurance plans offer CFAR coverage as an add-on to the policy, and some policies cover up to 75% of total trip costs going all the way up to a maximum reimbursement of $112,500.

Many AIG policies also include COVID coverage even without CFAR protection, as well as some ancillary benefits such as rental car protection and even pet travel insurance.

Read our AIG Travel Guard Insurance review here.

Best for Adventurers: Travelex Travel Insurance

Travelex Travel Insurance is a great cancel for any reason option for travelers who plan to participate in strenuous or adventurous activities during their trip. While the CFAR coverage add-on only reimburses up to 75% of nonrefundable trip expenses, it still provides a certain modicum of peace of mind in case of emergencies, with cancellation available as an option up to 48 hours before travel begins.

Travelex offers low medical coverage compared with its competitors, with a maximum of up to $50,000 per person. Travelers participating in adventure sports can purchase an optional add-on bundle for additional coverage. In case of emergency, Travelex policy holders might do well to consider the travel insurance benefits on their credit cards to supplement any potential medical expenses.

Read our Travelex Insurance review here.

Best for Multiple Trips: C&F Travel Insured  

C&F Travel Insured is the only company we reviewed that offers add-on CFAR coverage for trips taken under a annual multi-trip travel insurance policy. This benefit, which reimburses you for 75% of your nonrefundable fees, is a one-off addition you need to add to each trip you take. 

C&F also offers CFAR protection on its Worldwide Trip Protector policy, its premium single-trip policy, as long as you purchase your policy within 21 days of your initial trip deposit. 

Read our C&F Travel Insured review here.

Best for Cruises: A XA Assistance USA

AXA Assistance USA  is a great option for our hypothetical Europe cruise travelers, with its coverage of up to $1,500 per person for missed cruises and tours. This insurer also covers lost and delayed ski, sports and golf equipment – items that aren't always included in lost or delayed baggage coverage under other carriers. The rest of your belongings are safe too with AXA, as lost baggage claim ceilings are up to $3,000 per person - more than double some of its other competitors.

Unfortunately, AXA may not be the best fit for travelers who need high-ticket travel protection, as the upper limit for CFAR reimbursement only goes up to a maximum of $50,000 despite covering up to 75% of total nonrefundable expenses, which is lower than the ceilings from other competitors such as AIG and Seven Corners. Furthermore, CFAR insurance coverage can only be added on to AXA's top-tier Platinum plan.

Read our AXA Assistance USA Travel Insurance review here

Best for Long Trips : TravelSafe

TravelSafe Insurance is a great option to consider if you have a lot of stops or transits on your trip, or if you are an expat living abroad. This insurer offers flexible coverage terms for longer travel durations. If you are 79 years old or younger, you can purchase a single-trip travel insurance plan that can cover your adventures for up to 150 days. Furthermore, reimbursement for baggage delays and losses, trip delays and missed connections kick in far more quickly than most competitors, with up to $2,500 per person for eligible missed travel connections available at the three-hour mark.

While TravelSafe's medical coverage of up to $100,000 may be on the lower side for travelers who anticipate potential medical expenses, those with the right credit cards may be able to supplement their emergency costs through a claim with their card issuer.

Read our TravelSafe Travel Insurance review here.

Understanding 'Cancel for Any Reason' Coverage

Key features.

CFAR policies are unique; they allow cancellation for reasons beyond the usual covered reasons of travel insurance policies. This includes fear of traveling due to a pandemic or a sudden change of mind. However, it's essential to understand the specifics, such as the percentage of the trip cost reimbursed and the time frame for cancellation.

How CFAR Differs from Standard Policies

Unlike traditional travel insurance policies that cover specific cancellation reasons like illness or weather-related issues, CFAR offers a broader spectrum of coverage. It's the premium choice for travelers seeking full control over their plans.

That said, you must also buy travel insurance early if you want to qualify for a CFAR policy, usually within a certain period from when you place a deposit on your trip. That's why it's important to be mindful of when you buy travel insurance . 

How to Pick The Best CFAR Travel Insurance Plan for You

There is no one-size-fits-all "best" insurance plan, especially for CFAR coverage, which can add to your insurance premium. Even for the same person, the right policy will vary from trip to trip, depending on your activities.

If you're primarily concerned about getting your money back if your schedule changes, you may be able to get away with a basic plan that allows you to add CFAR coverage. If you're undertaking a grueling hike through some challenging mountain ranges, you may want to select a policy that includes generous medical and evacuation protection, plus flexibility to reschedule or re-book your trip in case of injury. And if you plan to visit a number of destinations within a short amount of time, trip delay or baggage loss protection may need to be one of your top priorities. If you only need basic coverage, consider our guide for the  best travel insurance policies .

Steps to Choosing CFAR Coverage

• Evaluating Your Travel Needs Consider the nature of your trip, destinations, and what uncertainties you might face. This will help determine the level of travel insurance coverage you need.
• Comparing Prices and Benefits Analyze different policies in terms of cost, coverage percentage, and additional benefits. Look for the best value for your specific needs.
• Reading the Fine Print Understanding the terms and conditions, including the cancellation window and reimbursement process, is crucial to avoid any surprises.
• Making the Most of Your Policy Once you've chosen a policy, it's important to know how to use it effectively.
• Understanding Your Policy Familiarize yourself with the details of your policy, including how and when to file a claim.
• Tips for Filing a Claim Be timely and thorough when filing a claim. Keep all relevant documents handy and follow the provider's process closely to ensure a smooth experience.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed the Best CFAR Travel Insurance

Business Insider reviewed numerous insurance products looking for the best options. Especially when it come to travel insurance, each traveler has a distinct experience and plan. So we looked for companies offering the optimal coverage packages for certain groups.

To accurately compare the cost of CFAR coverage from the insurance carriers we recommend, we collected quotes for a hypothetical two-week trip to three countries in Europe for two travelers ages 38 and 45 that includes a river cruise, renting a vacation home, and taking several flights. The total cost of travel comes out to $14,000 between two people.

The main factors we evaluated when picking our top CFAR travel insurance options were: policy cost, level of protection, claims experience, and policy types.

All our reviews are independently done, meaning travel insurance companies don't get to review or approve our reviews. Similarly, our top guide spots are not for sale. All placements are earned through strong coverage, efficient claims handling, and strong customer service.

Read our insurance rating methodology for more details.

Best CFAR Travel Insurance FAQs

How do i purchase cfar insurance.

CFAR insurance is purchased as an add-on to a single trip travel insurance policy. It will affect how much you can receive for a canceled trip, but won't affect your other benefits. 

Can I purchase CFAR insurance for annual plans?

No, insurance providers generally don't offer CFAR for multi-trip annual plans. It's limited to single trip travel insurance.

What percentage of my trip cost will CFAR insurance reimburse?

This varies by provider, but typically, CFAR policies reimburse between 50% and 75% of the pre-paid, non-refundable trip cost.

Is cancel for any reason travel insurance worth it?

Yes, cancel for any reason travel insurance is worth it if there's a chance you need to change your travel plans. Traditional travel insurance only offers cancellation coverage for specific reasons, so CFAR insurance provides extra coverage and peace of mind. It also reduces the amount of paperwork necessary for filing a claim.

What is the difference between trip cancellation and cancel for any reason?

Trip cancellation coverage is a benefit of standard travel insurance plans, offering reimbursement if your trip needs to be canceled for specific covered reasons, such as a death in the family or illness. On the other hand, cancel for any reason insurance, reimburses you for a canceled trip regardless of the reason, so there are fewer restrictions.

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